
Oass. 
Book- 



^ii:LSu 






[EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL KEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONEK 
OF FISH AND FISHERIES FOK 1881. J 



JVI^TERI A.LS 



FOR A 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



MACKEREL FISHERY. 



BY 



GEORGE BROWN GOODE. JOSEPH W. COLLINS, 
R. E. EARLL, AND A. H'^'^'^RD CLARK. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 

1883. 



\ EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL KEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONBB 
OF FISH ANB FISHERIES FOR 1881.] 



JVrATEIlI^LS 



FOR A 



HISTORY '^ 



OF THE 



MACKEEEL FISHEEY. 



BY 



GEORGE BROWN GOODE, JOSEPH W. COLLINS, 
R. E. EARLL, AND A, HOWARD CLARK. 



WASHINGTON: 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

7617 188 3. 



<1 






OCT 13 1906 



MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



By G. Brown Goode, Joseph W. Collins, R. E. Earll, and A. Howard Clark. 



ANALYSIS. 

Page. 

I. NATURAL HISTORY, BY G. BROWN GOODE 1 

A. — Life history of the mackerel 3 

1. Geographical distribution 3 

2. Migrations 5 

3. Abundance 13 

4. Food...: 15 

5. Reproduction 21 

6. Rate of growth and size 2G 

7. Enemies 27 

B. — Studies of the movements op the mackerel schools 29 

8. Hind on the cartses of irregular nioYemeuts 29 

9. Jlind on the causes of the alleged annual variations in the number 

of mackere] 35 

10. Observations of American fishermen on the movements of the mack- 
erel schools 37 

II. THE MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE UNITED STATES, BY G. BROWN 

GOODE AND CAPT. J. W. COLLINS 48 

C. — The purse-seine :^ishery 48 

11. The fishing grounds 48 

12. The fishermen 49 

13. The vessels 49 

14. Apparatus and methods of fishing 52 

16. Taking care of the fish 73 

17. Running for the market 75 

18. Landing the cargoes-. 75 

19. Financial profits of seining ^ .' 75 

20. History of the use of purse-seines 77 

21. The attempted use of the purse-seine in Norwegian waters 80 

D. — The mackerel hook fishery 81 

22. Fishing grounds 82 

23. The fishermen 83 

24. Thevessels 84 

25. Apparatus and methods of fishing 85 

26. Care of the fish 98 

27. Homeward passage and disposition of the fish 102 

28. Financial iirofits of the hook fishery 103 

29. Itinerary of a mackerel voyage to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, by 

Maj. D. W. Low 105 

E. — The mackerel gill-net fishery 

30. Implements, methods, and results of "mackerel dragging" 107 

F. — The spring southern mackerel fishery 112 

31. The fishing gi-ounds 112 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2J 

Page. 

II. THE MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE UNITED STATES— Continued. 

F. — The spring southern mackerel fishery — Continued. 

32. Early catclies of mackerel, 1878-1881 112 

33. The vessels: 113 

34. Apparatus and methods of fishing 113 

G.— Early methods of the mackerel fishery^, 1620 to 1820 115 

35. Seining mackerel with drag-seines 115 

36. Drailing for mackerel 117 

III. LEGISLATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MACKEREL 119 

H. — Laws, petitions, and protests 119 

37. Legislation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries 119 

38. Protests against jigging and seining in the present century 121 

IV. STATISTICS OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY IN 1880, BY R. EDWARD 

EARLL 124 

I. — Tables showing statistics 124 

39. Table I. Vessels and men in the mackerel fishery (by ports) 124 

40. Table II. Mackerel fleet, by States, according to fishing grounds. .. 126 

41. Table III. Mackerel fleet, by States, according to apparatus 126 

42. The products of the North American mackerel fishery fo" 1880 127 

V. THE MACKEREL CANNING INDUSTRY, BY R. EDWARD EARLL... 131 

J. — The development of the mackerel canning industry 131 

43. The methods and statistics of canning 131 

VI. METHODS OF PACKING, AND INSPECTION LAWS, BY A. HOWARD 

CLARK 137 

K. — Methods of packing, and inspection laws 137 

44. Methods of packing mackerel ^ 137 

45. Insj)ection laws 147 

VII. STATISTICS OF INSPECTION OF MACKEREL FROM 1804 TO 1880, 

BY A. HOWARD CLARK 162 

L.— Statistics of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, with 

TOTAL statistics 162 

46. Statistics of Massachusetts 162 

47. Statistics of Maine 193 

48. Statistics of New Hampshire 202 

49. Statistics of the United States (totals).- 213 

VIIL CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES, BY CAPT. J. W. COLLINS 217 

M. — Fishermen's records 217 

50. Seventeenth century 217 

51. Nineteenth century 218 

IX. APPENDIX — INSPECTION LAWS, COMPILED BY A. HOWARD 

CLARK 354 

52. Existing laws 354 

53. Repealed laws 372 

54. Inspection laws of the British Provinces 395 

X. APPENDIX— THE MACKEREL FLEET 418 

55. Vessels in the mackerel fishery in 1880 „„ 418 

XL APPENDIX— MACKEREL FISHERY IN THE GULF OF SAINT LAW- 
RENCE 430 

56. Catch of mackerel by Americans in Canadian waters 430 



I.— NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL. 

A.— LIFE HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL. 

1. — Geographical distribution. • 

The common mackerel, Scomber scombrus, is an inhabitant of the North 
Atlantic Ocean. On our coast its southern limit is in the neighborhood 
of Cape Hatteras in early spring. The fishing schooners of New Eu- 
glancl find schools of them in this region at some distance from the shore, 
but there is no record of their having been taken in any numbers in shoal 
water south of Long Island. A. W. Simpson states that the species has 
been observed in the sounds about Cape Hatteras in August, September, 
and October. R. E. Earll finds evidence that stragglers occasionally enter 
the Chesapeake. Along the coasts of the Middle States and of New En- 
gland mackerel abound throughout the summer months, and are also 
found in great numbers in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where, in past 
years, fishermen of the United States congregated in great numbers to 
participate in their capture. They are also found on the coast of 
Labrador, though there is no evidence that they ordinarily frequent 
the waters north of the Straits of Belle Isle. 

Captain Atwood* has expressed the opinion that they visit Northern 
Labrador only in seasons remarkable for the prevalence of westerly 
winds, and that in colder seasons they do not go so far north. 

Professor Hind was told by the residents of Aillik and Kypokok, 
Labrador, 150 miles northwest of Hamilton Inlet, that mackerel were 
abundant there in 1871, and that a few were caught in cod-seines. 
While at Double Island harbor, some fifteen miles north of Hopedale, a 
French Canadian resident informed him that there is " a scattering of 
mackerel" on that part of the coast. 

They appear also at Xiwtes to have been abundant on the northeast- 
ern coast of Newfoundland, though their appearance there is quite 
irregular. Mackerel do not occur in Hudson's Bay nor on the coast of 
Greenland. It seems probable that the natural northern limit of the 
species in the Western Atlantic is not far from the Straits of Belle Jsle. 
Professor Packard, who visited this region in 18G6, recorded that a few 
mackerel are taken in August in Salmon Bay and Red Bay, but that the 
Straits of Belle Isle were evidently the northern limits of the genus, while 
Fortin, one of the best Canadian authorities on fisheries, in his annual 
report for 1864, stated that in summer they appear in some places, such 

* Proceedings Boston Society of Natural History, vol. 10, p. 66. 
[3] 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [4] 

as Little Mecattina on tlie adjoining coast, latitude 50J° north, and even 
sometimes enter the Straits of Belle Isle.* 

Perley says that they are rarely known to visit the coast of Labrador. 
H. E. Storer, after carefully studying the fauna of Southern Labrador, 
in 1849, came to the conclusion that they were sometimes found at Little 
Mecattina. 

In the various reports of the Canadian inspectors of fisheries on the 
Labrador coast from 1864 to 1870 may be found evidence that mack- 
erel are rarely taken even on the Labrador coast of the Gulf of Saint 
Lawlbuce. 

Professor Verrill, who visited Anticosti and Miugan in 1861, was un- 
able to find any mackerel iu the waters of that region, although the 
best methods of catching them were often used. 

Some years ago mackerel were abundant in the Bay of Fundy, as 
many as twelve vessels from Eastport, besides others, being engaged in 
their capture, chiefly about Digby and Saint Mary's Bay. They have 
now so completely disappeared as not to form an item in the commercial 
record of the catch. 

The species is found throughout the entire length of the iSTorwegian 
coast from the Christiana Fjord to the North Cape and Varenger Fjord, 
latitude 71°. 

It occurs on the south coast of Sweden, and, entering the Baltic, is 
found along the shores of Eastern Denmark and Eastern Prussia, and 
also abundantly in the German Ocean and the English Channel, as well 
as everywhere in all i)arts of the British Isles, and southward to the 
Mediterranean, where it abounds, especially in the Adriatic. There is 
no record of its capture in Africa, South America, in the West Indies, 
Gulf of Mexicoj or even about the Bermudas. 

The mackerel, then, would appear to be a shore-loving fish, not ad- 
dicted to wide wanderings in the ocean, and with range limited in the 
Western Atlantic between latitudes 35° and 56°; in the Eastern Atlantic 
between 36° and 71°. 

* In I860 Capt. Peter Avery, of the schooner Alabama, of Provincetown, took 100 bar- 
rels of fat mackerel at Port an Port, Newfoundland. Captain Atwood, however, has 
seen them at the Bay of Islands. He has also seen large schools at Mecattina. 

Capt. J. W. Collins writes : 

"As early as 1836, Capt. Stephen Rich, in the schooner "Good Hojje", of Glou- 
cester, spent almost the entire mackerel-fishing season on the coast of Labrador in 
pursuit of mackerel. He was induced by the reports brought him by the Labrador 
cod-fishermen to make this attempt. They had rej)orted seeing mackerel abundant 
in the vicinity of the Straits of Belle Isle, and Captain Rich being of an adventurous 
turn decided to devote one summer to the investigation of the subject, feeling in hopes 
of obtaiuing a large catch. My father was one of the crew, and I have often heard 
Mm tell that the trip was entirely unsuccessful, notwithstanding the fact that they 
cruised all the way from Mecattina Islands through the Straits of Belle Isle, and on 
the northwest coast of Newfoundland as far down as the Bay of Islands. Few or no 
mackerel were taken until the vessel returned in the fall to the southern ]3art of the 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where a small fare was obtained in a few weeks' fishiug." 



[5] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

2. — Migrations. 

The migrations of the mackerel, the causes of their appearance and 
disappearance at certain seasons at different points along the coast, the 
causes of their relative abundance and scarcity in different years, have 
already been discussed by numerous writers. The subject has received 
special attention on account of the disputes between our own and the 
Canadian Government concerning the value to our fishermen of the right 
to j)articipate in the mackerel fisheries in the Provincial waters. 

Notwithstanding the great amount of paper which has been covered 
with theories to explain the various mooted questions, it cannot belaid 
that the habits of the mackerel are understood at all better than those 
of other fishes which have not attracted so much attention. The most 
voluminous writer upon this subject has been Prof. Henry Youle Hind, 
who devotes many pages of his book, " The Effect of the Fishery Clauses 
of the Treaty of Washington on the Fisheries and Fishermen of British 
I>rorth America," to the attempt to prove that the mackerel which have 
been at certain seasons in the past so abundant in the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence and on the Atlantic coast of Kova Scotia, remain there through- 
out the year, hibernating in deep waters not very remote from the 
shore.* I have attempted to show the weakness of his argument in an 

*Mr. Bamet Phillips, in the New York Times, December 31, 1880, thus criticises the 
theory of Mr. Hind, while referring to Mr. William H. Rideing's essaj'^ entitled "First 
Families of the Atlantic" : 

"In an article entitled ' First Families of the Atlantic,' to be found in the January- 
number of Harper's Magazine, certain assertions are advanced in regard to the habits 
of the mackerel which are entirely of an ex parte character and might unintentionally 
act injuriously to our interests in case future disputes arose between the Provinces 
and the United States on the fishery question. The writer states that, ' seeking a soft 
muddy or sandy bed at the approach of -winter, it [the mackerel] buries itself therein, 
first drawing a scale or film over each eye.' In a prior paragraph of this same article 
the possibility of the hibernation of the mackerel is advanced. Now, exactly these 
two arguments were liresented by Professor Hind, who wished to prove that the 
mackerel was a local fish, in favor of the Provinces, which assertions were entirely 
refuted by Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and 
by Prof. G. Brown Goode. The great argument used by the Provincial fish exijerts 
was to show that the mackerel belonged to their waters, and the ideas of hibernation 
were therefore represented. If this had been granted, our case would have had, 
as far as mackerel go, little to rest upon. As to hibernation of the mackerel there 
are innumerable reasons to suppose that nothing of the kind exists. In fact, hi- 
bernation is one of those ichthyological questions which require very long research 
to kuow anything about. It does seem that sturgeon in Russian waters, and 
carp in cold temperatures, take to the mud, and may, perhaps, do something like 
hibernation, but this habit has no precedent in sea-fish. It. may hajjpen that a few 
individuals of the scomber /amily have been inclosed in the winter season in the waters 
of the Newfoundland coast. Such cases have undoubtedly happened, for on page 62 
of the late report of the United States Commission, the statement is made that in a 
river of Nova Scotia where a school of mackerel had been detained, the fish were 
speared out of the mtid. Returning to the numbing eft'ects of cold weather on sea-fish, 
in order to show how unusual it must be, the American turbot is taken with books in 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [6] 

essay published in the Fifth Annual Report of the United States Com- 
missioner of Fisheries for the year 1877, pp. 50-70. It is by no means 
demonstrated that certain schools of mackerel do not remain throughout 
the year in waters adjacent to the coast of Canada, but the weight of 
evidence at present seems to rest with those who believe that the mack- 
erel are given to extensive migrations north and south along our coasts. 
These migrations are believed to be carried on in connection with another 
kind of migration which I have called "bathic migration," and which 
consists in a movement, at the approach of cold weather, into the deeper 
waters of the ocean. The menhaden and many other fishes have these 
tw# kinds of migrations, littoral and bathic. The sea-herring, on the 
other hand, has extensive littoral migrations and probably very slight 
movements of a bathic nature. In some the latter is most extended, in 
others the former. Anadromous fishes, like the shad and the alewife, very 
probably strike directly out to sea without ranging to any great degree 
northward or southward, while others, of which the mackerel is a fair 
type, undoubtedly make great coastwise migrations, though their bathic 
migrations may, without auy great inconsistency, be as great as those 
which range less. 

Upon this point I cannot do better than to quote from a manuscript 
letter from Professor Baird to the Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of 
State, dated July 21, 1873. Having expressed certain views concerning 
the well known phenomenon of the migration of the herring and shad, 
he continues : 

"The fish of the mackerel family form a marked exception to this 
rule. While the alewife and shad generally swim low in the water, their 
presence not being indicated at the surface, the mackerel swim near 
the surface, sometimes far out to sea, and their movements can be read- 
ily followed. The JSTorth American species consist of fish which as cer- 
tainly, for the most part at least, have a migration along our coast north- 

the dead of winter under the floe ice of North Greenland at a depth of 300 fathoms. 
If sea-fish were mummified in the ocean dei)ths by the cold, because at the deeper 
strata of the ocean temperatures are fairly uniform, once a fish had hibernated, his 
sleep might continue on forever. There can be no better proof of the migratory char- 
acter of the mackerel than to cite a paragraph from the Cape Ann Advertiser, pub- 
lished this week, where the fact is announced that the mackerel fleet have gone off 
Hatteras in hopes of securing mackerel, and that some time ago ' vessels reported 
having sailed through immense schools for forty miles.' The film over the eye of 
mackerel Professor Hind placed great stress on, as he supposed it was a preparatory 
step to the hibernating process. Now, this film over the eye, as Mr. Goode shows, is 
not peculiar to the Scovihers, for many fish, such as the shad, the alewife, the men- 
haden, the blue-fish, the mullet, the lake white-fish, and various cypriuoid fishes, have 
this membrane, though it never does cover the whole eye. The fact remains also to 
be proved that a skin forms over the eye in winter only." The writer of this article 
has apparently culled his facts in regard to mackerel from one side, and has read most 
superficially the whole of the testimony. ' Public docuu)ents ' are rarely of anfamusing 
character, but when they happen to be of interest, as were those published as ' The 
Award of the Fisheries Commission,' it is most unfortunate when false deductions are 
derived fcora. them." 



[7] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

ward in spring and southward in autumn, as that of the ordinary pleas- 
ure seekers, and their habit of schooling on the surface of the water en- 
ables us to determine this fact with great precision. Whatever may be 
the theories of others on the subject, the American mackerel fisher knows 
perfectly well that in the spring he may find the schools of mackerel off 
Cape Henry, and that he can follow them northward day by day as they 
move in countless myriads on to the coasts of Maine and IsTova Scotia." 

The movements of the mackerel schools, like those of the menhaden, 
appear to be regulated solely by the temperature of the ocean. 

In my essay upon menhaden, which has just been referred to, I have 
attempted to show, in a preliminary way, the relations of the movements 
of the menhaden schools to the temperature of the water at ditferent 
stations along the coast in accordance with certain crude observations, 
which at present constitute the only material available as a basis for 
such generalizations. I have there claimed that menhaden make their 
appearance near the shore in the spring as soon as the temperature of 
the water in the harbors has reached a weekly average of 50°, and that 
they disappear in the fall soon after the waters have again cooled down 
to the same average temperature. ^ 

The mackerel is partial to much colder waters. They range ten to 
fifteen degrees farther to the north, and their southern limit is propor- 
tionally high. They appear earlier in the spring and disappear later in 
the fall, and their presence is nearly synchronous with the time when 
the water temperatures of the harbor have reached a weekly'- average 
of 45°. It has been remarked that the presence of the menhaden 
depends upon a weekly average of the harbor temperature of 50° or 
more. These harbor temperatures are several degrees — it is not known 
exactly how many — higher than those of the open ocean at the same 
latitude, and there can be no question that the menhaden thrives in 
water as cold as 45°. Mackerel will remain active and contented in a 
temperature of 40°, or even less. The normal time of the departure of 
mackerel from the coast is, therefore, a^ month or two later than that of 
the menhaden. 

There are well recorded instances of the capture of menhaden in Mas- 
sachusetts Bay as late as December, and there are also many instances 
where mackerel have been taken not only on the New England coast, 
but also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in mid- winter.* 

* Twenty mackerel were caught in a gill-net at Provincetown January 17, X878. 
Others were taken late in December. Captain Harding tells me that they sometimes 
come ashore frozen in cold weather, and are found in the ice on the beach. 

Early in February, 1881, small mackerel 5 or 6 inches in length were found in con- 
siderable numbers in the stomachs of hake and cod, taken on the eastern part of 
George's Bank in 50 fathoms, and on the southeastern part of Le Have in 60 and 80 
fathoms of Avater; sometimes ten, twelve, or fifteen in the stomach of a single fish. 
On the 8th and 9th of February, Captain Olsen observed them schooling at the surface 
on George's. Gloucester fishermen had before seen them in winter on George's, but never 
80 abundant. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSTONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8J 

Mr. John Fletcher Wonson tells me that at one time he left Glouces- 
ter ou a halibut trip January 1, and January 3 or 4 on George's Bank 
caught a hogshead of herring and 7 or 8 mackerel in a gill-net. 

The Schooner Shooting Star took a number of mackerel on George's 
Bank in March, 1856.* 

The fishermen on George's took tinkers from the stomachs of cod-fish 
in February, 1878, using them for bait. Sometimes five or six were 
taken from one fish. 

In January, 1868 or 1869, Capt. Warren Brown, of the schooner 
Charles Frederick, of Gloucester, caught 30 mackerel on a trawl-line 
set on the middle bank. 

The Yarmouth Herald (Yarmouth, 'Nova Scotia), January 2, 1879, 
states that " two fine fat fresh mackerel were found among the kelp at 
Green Cove on Friday, December 28, 1878." 

Basing their arguments upon such occurrences as these, Canadian 
writers have attempted to prove that large bodies of mackerel hibernate 
along their shores throughout the winter. It is still believed by many 
fishermen that the mackerel, at the approach of cold weather, go down 
injto the mud, and there remain in a state of torpidity until the ap- 
proach of warm weather in the spring. All that can be said regarding 
this claim is that, although we do not know enough about the subject to 
pronounce this impossible, American ichthyologists think they know 
enough to be of the opinion that it is very decidedly improbable, t 

* Cape Ann Advertiser, April, 1856. 

tit seems only fair to quote in this connection a letter printed in Forest and Stream, 
a leading New York journal devoted to field sports and the fisheries, in criticism of 
views published at the time in that paper and also in the report of the Fish Commis- 
sion, part V. I feel the utmost confidence in Dr. Gilpin's statements as to facts ob- 
served, though my interpretation might perhaps be different. 

" Halifax, June 19, 1878. 

''Mr. Editor: In some papers published some time since in the Forest and Stream 
upon the habits of the mackerel, it is asserted by Prof. Brown Goode that there is no 
reliable evidence of mackerel being seen upon the coast of Nova Scotia after the 25th 
of October, quoting me as liis authority. Had he quoted me as giving the 1st of No- 
vember, 1868, when the fish market at Halifax was full, I should have felt more com- 
plimented, as I should have known he had read my paper with more attention. In 
summing up my remarks I stated that mackerel remain usually all November on the 
surface in Nova Scotia, and during mild winters linger to December. This, Professor 
Goode says, is not reliable as scientific evidence, because no specific dates are given. 
To admit this would be to destroy almost the whole mass of information compiled in 
the report of both the Eoyal and American Commissioners of Euglish and American 
Fisheries. But as I am certain that Professor Goode's desire is to have the truth simply, 
will you allow me a place in your columns to add to my previous assertions such spe- 
cific dates as I may be able now to obtain, though not admitting his principle. 

"On May 23, 1875, going into the Halifax fish market, I asked generally how long 
are mackerel in market? I was answered, generally all through November. On ask- 
ing how long in December they had known them in market, Mr. Grey wire said : ' I 
recollect them as late as the 10th of December. We keep our nets out to the 30th of 
November. Men hire to that time. Mackerel are seen after that date, but the seas 



[9] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

The appearance of the mackerel schools at the approach of summer 
in ordinary years has been noticed somewhere in the neighborhood of the 
following dates: At sea, oft' Cape Hatteras, March 20 to April 25; off 
Norfolk, Va., March 20 to April 30; off' the Capes of Delaware, April 15 
to May 1 ; off Barnegat and Sandy Hook, May 5 to May 25, and at the 
same date along the whol#sonthern coast of New England, and as far 
east as Southern Nova Scotia, while in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence they 
appear late in May, and in abundance early in June.* 

There appears to be a marked difference between the movements of 
mackerel and the menhaden, for while the menhaden are much more 
gradual in their approach to the shore, and much more dependent ujion 
a small riseof temperature, the mackerel make their appearance almost 
simultaneously in all the waters from New Jersey to Nova Scotia at 
about the same time. Stragglers, of course, appear much earlier than 
the dates just mentioned; a few mackerel were observed at Waquoit, 
Mass., as early as April 19, 1871. 

In the fall the mackerel disappear as suddenly as they came in the 
spring, but they have only in one instance been observed off the Caro- 
lina coast, except during the spring run. This is very i)robably because 
no fishing vessels ever visit this region later than June. 

The instance referred to is the experience of Mr. Peter Sinclair, a well- 
known fisherman of Gloucester, who states that he has frequently taken 
them in great abundance off Cape Hatteras in December, where they 
are not known at all in the summer season. He has found them in the 

are so boisterous that our nets are destroyed. Some few parties will keep tlieni out 
in December in spite of cold and storms.' Mr. White corroborated this. Mr. Thomas 
Brackett said he had taken them often in December, and often in weather so cold that 
the fish were frozen in removing them from the meshes of the nets, but could remem- 
ber no dates. Mr. William Duffy stated he saw one once on the 24th of December. He 
recollected it because it was Christmas eve, and on account of its rarity ; but he had 
frequently taken them during December, though having no dates. The nets used are 
about two fathoms deep, set near the shore in about five to ten fathoms of water. My 
own recollections, but without dates, are seeing stops made in very cold weather and 
frozen ground, which must have been late in November. I think I have now made 
good my assertion that they linger to December, and that in any future history of 

* The following letter from the skipper of the schooner Edward E. Webster is 
important, in that it gives the exact positions as well as the dates of some of the 
earliest caj)tures in 1878, '79, '80, and '81 : 

" New York, Ajyril 22, 1881. 
"Captain Collins: 

"Dear Sir : 1 have just received your letter of March 14, in which you wanted to 
know whereabouts I caught my first mackerel, (The first catch) in 1878, Ajiril 16, 
lat. 36° 10' N., long. 74^' 45' W. ; in 1879, April 12, lat. 36° 35' N., long. 74° 50' W. ; in 
1880, April 1, lat. 35° 30' N., long. 74° 15' W. ; in 1881, March 20, lat. 37° 10' N., long. 
740 05' W. ; and this trip we got them April 18 in lat. 38° 38' N., and long. 74° 00' W. 
This is our second trip this season. I have seen mackerel in lat. 35° 15' N., and long. 
73° 46' W., Avhich is the fartherest south I have ever seen any. I have been oft' Cape 
Lookout many times, but have never seen mackerel there. * * * 
"Yours, truly, 

" SOLOMON JACOBS." 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [10] 

spring as far soutli as Charleston, and followed them from Cape Henry 
to the Bay of Fundy and the Gnlf of Saint Lawrence. 

The very vagueness of the statements just made is evidence to show 
how little is actually known about the movements of these fish. The 
subject must be studied long and carefully before it can be understood, 
and the interests of the American fishermei. demand that it should be 
thus studied. 

" There is," writes Professor Baird, " no very satisfactory evidence 
of the occurrence of mackerel in the winter or any other season south 
of Cape Hatteras, and it is not given by Poey and other writers as 
occurring in the West Indies. A few mackerel are said to be occasion- 
ally brought into the Charleston market, and Mr. Moses Tarr, of 
Gloucester, thinks that some years ago he saw in the early part of March, 
a short distance to the southeast of Key West, a large school of mack- 
erel. He, however, did not cai,)ture any, and it is more likely that the 
fish observed belonged to some other small species of the mackerel 
family which occasionally school like the mackerel itself, and might 
easily be mistaken for it. The skip-jack or leather-back may possibly 
have been the species referred to. 

" I have been quite surprised to find the extent of belief among Massa- 

tlieir habits it must be assumed as tru'tli that they remain in numbers dimng Novem- 
ber, but are found sparingly later on our coasts. Where they are duriug those dates 
in any intermediate point from Maiue to Virginia, must be left to American observers. 
When these blanks are filled and a generalization made their history will be more 
complete, a task we may well leave in the hands of the American Commissioners of 
Fisheries. 

"In my paper (1865) I speak of their asserted torpidity and the story of their blind- 
ness as needing more proof before they are asserted as facts. I have had nothing to 
alter my opinion since. In examining the eyes of many mackerel on May 23 and 27 
and October 27, in different years, I have found that, as in most fish, the bony orbit is 
much larger than the base of the eye, and that the space is filled by gelatinous sub- 
stance, which may be called cellular membrane and adipose deposit to this transpar- 
ent membrane arising from the outer angle of this orbit spreads half way over the 
pupil of the eye. It may easily be raised and defined bypassing a pen-knife between 
it and the eye. At the inner angle there is also a similar, but much smaller, mem- 
brane, not reaching to the eye. As the mackerel appear on our coasts about the 15fch 
of May, and these observations were made the 23d, I do not think it can be asserted 
the eye is closed entirely in spring ; and as the same appearance is found in Septem- 
ber, we must admit it to be a permanent structure. An analogous membrane is found 
in the clupide, and doubtless other fish. On asking Thomas Loyd, our roughest and 
oldest fisherman: 'I don't know anything about the scales of the eyes, but I do know 
that, curse them, they see too sharp for us, steering clear of our spring nets,' and 
doubtless old Tom was right. 

" On dissecting a mackerel, May 23, 1 found the heart first presenting the tricornered 
ventrical with its white aorta and deej) red auricle resting upon the fi-inge of cceca 
that covered the intestines, sweeping down to the vent. The liver and stomach were 
both covered by the cceca. The latter was about three inches long, its upper lobe 
thick and round, but ending in a narrow tail or point. The cardiac end of the stomach 
was prolonged two and a half inches, ending in a point. The ccecae were attached to 
the gut about an inch below the pylorus. There was but little difference in appear- 



[11] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



cliusetts fishermen that the mackerel goes into the mud in the winter 
time. I have, indeed, been assured by trustworthy parties that they 
have known mackerel caught on eel spears when fishing for eels in the 
mud of Provincetown harbor. 

"A similar belief is referred to by Dr. Gilpin in his paper on the 
mackerel in the transactions of the I^Tova Scotia Scientific Association, 
and it is difficult to refuse assent to the testimony of otherwise credible 
observers. There is nothing apparently in the economy of the mackerel 
to prevent its following the example of the sand lance, the eel, and 
other fish. We know that the melanora, the tench, and, many other 
fresh-water fish have the burrowing habit, some of them being imbedded 
very deep in the mud at the bottom of a dried-up pond, to emerge again 
when tlie water is restored. 

" The entire disappearance of mackerel during the winter season is a 
noteworthy fact, as we can hardly suppose that if it schooled on the 
surface in the Gulf Stream during that season it would not be noticed 
by the experienced eyes of sea captains, and we can hardly imagine 
that the fish would remain in the depths without an occasional rise. 

ance and size between stomacli and gnt. This we may roughly sum up : Stomach and 
gut very simple ; ccBca usually large and complicated ; liver small, all noteworthy 
facts in the study of comparative life. The fish being a male one, lobe on either side 
of ivory-white; milt reached from gills to vent, slightly adhering to the sides by 
thin membrane, and covered by a similar one. They were divided in lobes by shallow 
lines, the upper lobes slightly fimbriated. On removing both entrails and milt a dark- 
purple space about an inch wide extended from gills to vent beneath the back bone. 
This, when opened, seemed filled with coagulated blood. It had in some respects the 
appearance of the air bladder in the salmouidse, though wanting in the direct com- 
munication they have with the oesophagus. But this commuuication is also wanting 
in the gadidse, where, especially in the hake, the air bladder assumes its highest form 
of organization. I have often found coagulation and reticulated jplexi in air bladders 
of other fish. 

"It has been asserted the European mackerel have no air bladders, and a new genus 
proposed, but with more probability they have the same organization as our own, and 
the difference lies in the opinion whether or not it is an air bladder. 

"The mackerel appear on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, and almost simulta- 
neously on the Bay of Fundy, about the 15th of May. Nearly all spawners, male and 
female, perform a somewhat easterly and northerly route, disappear from the surface 
iu a few weeks and reappear "again in September without spawu, and fat, remain in 
numbers during November, and very sparingly during December, coming from the 
eastward and then disappear. It may be asserted generalizing fi-om observation ex- 
tending over a series of 8 or 10 years, that they are irregular in their movements as 
regards localities, though probably not as regards ocean surfaces. 

"The very great difficulty of accounting how these enormous masses of surface 
feeders find food after disappearing from the surface has caused many ingenious theo- 
ries, as to the question in what state and where they pass that time. These are all 
pleasant reading, but valuable more or less as regards the ingenuity and scientific 
standing of the writers. In this paper and the one I inclose (1865) I have stated what 
I think are facts, and which must be accepted in the future history of American mack- 
erel, which I hope soon to see written by that commission which has already done so 
much in Atlantic waters. 

"BERNARD GILPIN." 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [12 J 

" It jqjpears to be a well-established fact that mackerel are not uu- 
frequently found in the stomachs of cod, and possibly of halibut, taken 
on the George's Banks in the winter season. Perhaps the number 
noted would be still larger if fishermen had the time and inclination to 
examine more frequently than they do the stomachs of the fish captured 
by them. 

"Another curious fact in relation to the mackerel is in -respect to the 
membrane, the vertical edge of which is observed during the summer 
season on the corner of the eye. This, it is claimed, during- the winter 
extends over the whole eye, and imparts the appearance of blindness. 
This the mackerel is said to possess on making' its first appearance 
near the coast in the spring, when it extends over the greater part 
of the eye, thus preventing the fish from seeing the bait, and it is a 
matter of common remark that mackerel in the spring cannot be taken 
with the hook, but must be captured with the net. The membrane 
appears to recede with the advancing season, and during a considerable 
portion of the time of its abode in the north it is scarcely ai)preciable." 

Mr. Perley, of Saint John, N. B., in his work uj^on the fishes of the 
Provinces, remarks that mackerel have been taken on cod hooks in 
deep water, near Grand Manan, in the winter season, and there is evi- 
dence to show that a few remain on the coast. It is, however, believed 
that these cases are exceptional and confined to stragglers, as such 
instances frequently occur with all the migratory fish. 

The mackerel -belongs to what may technically be termed pelagic or 
wandering fish, as their movements, something like those of the herring, 
are apparently more or less capricious, though probably governed by 
some definite law, which has not yet been worked out. It moves in large 
schools or bauds, more or less isolated from each other, which some- 
times swim near the surface and give distinct evidence of their pres- 
ence, and at others sink down into the depths of the ocean and are 
entirely withdrawn from observation. The army of fish, however, in its 
northern migration, moves along with a very broad front, a i)ortion com- 
ing so close to the shore as to be taken in the weirs and traps aloug the 
coast of Southern New England, especially in Vineyard Sound and on 
Caioe Cod 5 while at the same time other schools are met with from 20 to 
50 mili'S, or even more, out to sea. It is, however, still a question 
whether the fish that skirt the coast of the United States enter the Bay 
of .Saint Lawrence, or whether the latter belong to another series, com- 
ing directly from the deep seas oft" the jSTewfoundland and Nova Scotia 
coast. Until lately the former has been the generally accepted theory, 
in view of the alleged fact that the fishermen of the Nova Scotia coast 
always take the fish coming from the Avest in the spring and from the 
east in the fall. 

Captain Hanson B. Joyce, of Swan's Island, Maine, one of the most 
expert and observing mackerel fishermen of New England, thinks that 
the movements of the sj)ring schools of mackerel are very much in- 



[13] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

fluenced by the direction and force of the prevailing winds while the 
fish are performing their northerly migration. He has generally found, 
he says, that when there has been a continuance of strong northerly 
winds about the last of May and early in June, the season at which the 
mackerel are passing the shoals of Nantucket and George's Bank, that 
The schools have taken a southerly- track, passing to the southward of 
George's Shoals and continuing on in an easterly direction to the coast 
of Kova Scotia, and thence .to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. 

When southerly winds or calms prevail at that season the mackerel 
are carried into the waters of the Gulf of Maine, and in consequence 
are much plentier off the New England coast than in the Saint Law- 
rence Gulf. 

On this theory Captain Joyce bases his actions in cruising for mack- 
erel, alwaj^s fishing oft" the New England shores when southerly winds 
have predominated in the spring, and going to the Saint Lawrence if 
northerly winds have been exceptionally strong and continuous about 
the last of May. 

The movements of the fish, as already stated, season by season, are 
quite uncer'snin, sometimes being very abundant in one direction and 
sometimes in another, and occasionally, indeed, they may disappear 
almost entirely for several years, and then reappearing after a consider- 
able absence. In some years mackerel are very abundant on the coast of 
the United States and at others rare; the same condition applying to the 
fish of the Bay of Saint Lawrence. It is not certain, of course, that this 
indicates an entire absence of the fish from the localities referred to, 
but they may, possibly for some reason, remain in the depth of the sea, 
or some change in the character of the animal lile in it, which consti- 
tutes the food of the fish, may inoduce the changes referred to. A 
notable instance of a somewhat permanent change in the migration of 
the mackerel is found in the entire failure since 187G of the mackerel 
fisheiy in the Bay of Eundy, which, a few years ago, enabled a merchant 
of Eastport to employ successfully as many as a dozen vessels, especially 
in Digby and Saint Mary's Bay, but which is now given up. There are 
indeed faint suggestions, in the early history of the country, of their 
total absence from the whole coast for several years, as was also the case 
with the bluefish. 

3. — Abundance. 

The wonderful abundance of mackerel in our waters has always been 
a subject of remark. Francis Higginson, in his " Journal of his voyage 
to New England, 1629," speaks of seeing "many schools of mackerel, 
infinite multitudes on every side of our ship," off' Cape Ann on the 26th 
of June; and Eichard Mather, in his "journal" 1635, states that the 
seamen took abundance of mackerel off Menhiggin (Monhegan). In 
Governor Winthrop's journal, speaking of the year 1639, he remarks: 
"There was such store of exceeding large and fat mackerel upon our 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14] 

coast this season as was a great benefit to all our Plantations, since one 
Boat with three men would take in a week ten hogsheads, which were 
sold at Connecticut for £3 12s. Od. per hogshead." 

Their abundance has varied greatly from year to year, and at times 
their numbers have been so few that grave apprehensions have been 
felt lest they should soon depart altogether. 

As early as 1070, laws were passed by the colony of Massachusetts 
forbidding the use of certain instruments of capture, and similar ordi- 
nances have been passed from time to time ever since. The first re- 
source of our State governments has always been, in seasons of scarcity, 
to attempt to restore fish to their former abundance by protective legis- 
lation. It seems to us at the present day absurd that the Massachusetts 
people should have supj)osed that the use of shore-seines was extermi- 
nating the mackerel on the coast of Massachusetts, but it is a fair ques- 
tion whether their apprehensions were not as well grounded as those of 
legislators of the present century who have endeavored to apply a sim- 
ilar remedy for a similar evil. In connection with the chaj^ter on the 
mackerel fishery will be shown a diagram, which, by means of curves, 
exhibits the catch of mackerel in New England for a period of seventy- 
five years. 

From a study of this it seems quite evident that the periods of their 
abundance and scarcity have alternated with each other without refer- 
ence to overfishing or any other causes which we are prepared to un- 
derstand. In the year 1831, 383,548^ barrels of mackerel were inspected 
in Massachusetts. In 1881 the number of barrels inspected was 269,495 ; 
to this, however, should be added 125,000 barrels caught and marketed 
fresh by the Massachusetts fleet, making an aggregate of 394,495 barrels. 
The fluctuations in the catch year by year from 1804 to 1881 are shown 
most instructively in a plate accompanying this report. 

The total catch of mackerel by the New England fishermen in 1880 
amounted to 131,939,255 pounds; while the Canadian catch (according 
to official returns, barrels being estimated to contain 300 pounds, cans, 
one and one-half pounds of fiesh round fish) was 70,271,260 pounds, 
making an aggregate of 202,210,515 pounds. The yield of New England 
in 1881 is estimated to have exceeded that of 1880 by 10,000,000 pounds. 
We have- no means at present for estimating the decrease of the Cana- 
dian catth, but it is perhaps safe to put it -at 11,000,000. This brings 
the catch of 1881 to about 20r,000,000 pounds. In addition to this, at 
least 100,000 barrels or 20,000,000 pounds, according to estimates from 
competent authority, were thrown away by the New England fleet. This 
brings the total weight of mackerel caught up to 221,000,000, represent- 
ing 294,667,000 fish, if the weight be estimated at three-quarters of ft 
pound each. The catch of mackerel in the waters of Europe does not 
probably exceed ten per cent, of this quantity. 

The stories which are told by experienced fishermen of the immense 
numbers of mackerel sometimes seen are almost incredible. Capt. King 



[15] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Harding, of Swampscott, Mass., described to me a school which he saw 
in the South Channel in 1848: "It was a windrow of fish," said hej 
" it was about half a mile wide, and at least twenty miles long, for vessels 
not in sight of each other saw it at about the same time. All the vessels 
out saw this school the same day." He saw a school off Block Island, 
1877, wiiich he estimated to contain one million barrels. He could see 
only one edge of it at a time. 

Upon the abundance of mackerel depends the welfare of many thou- 
sands of the citizens of Massachusetts and Maine. The success of the 
mackerel fishery is much more uncertain than that of the cod fishery, 
for instance, lor the supply of cod is quite uniform from year to year. 
The prospects of each season are eagerly discussed from week to week 
in thousands of little circles along the coast, and are chronicled by the 
local press. The story of each successful trip is passed from mouth to 
mouth, and is a matter of general congratulation in each fishing com- 
munity. A review of the results of the American mackerel fishery, and 
of the movements of the fish in each part of the season year by year, 
would be an important contribution to the literature of the American 
fisheries. Materials for such a review are before me, but space will not 
allow that it should be presented here. 

4. — Food. 

The food of the mackerel consists, for the most part, of small species 
of crustaceans, which abound everywhere in the sea, and which they 
appear to follow in their migrations. They also feed upon the spawn 
of other fishes and upon the spawn of lobsters, and prey greedily upon 
young fish of all kinds.* In the stomach of a "tinker" mackerel, taken 
in Fisher's Island Sound, IsTovember 7, 1877, Dr. Bean found the remains 
of six kinds of fishes — of the anchovy, the sand-lance, the smelt, the 
hake, the barracuda, and the silver-sides, besides numerous shrimps and 
other crustaceans. Captain Atwood states that when large enough they 
devour greedily large numbers of young herring several months old. 
Specimens taken July 18, 1871, 20 miles south of Noman's Land, con- 
tained numerous specimens of the big-eyed shrimps, Thysanopoda, 
larval crabs in the zoea and megalops stages, the young of hermit 
crabs, the young lady crabs, Platyonichus ocellafus, the young of two 
undetermined Macrura, numerous Copej)oda, and numerous specimens 
of SpiriaUs Gouldii, a species of Pteropod. They also feed upon the 
centers of floating jelly-fishes (Discophores). In Gasp6 the fishermen 
call jelly-fishes "mackerel bait." 

The greed with which mackerel feed upon the chum, or ground men- 

*Near tile New London light-house is a small brook which empties into the harbor 
and abounds with a small species of fish of which the mackerel appear to be fond. 

A few days since the keeper of the light-house, while the mackerel were indulging 
in a meal, caught five hundred at one haul with a scoop-net. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
December 3, 1870.) 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [16] 

liaden bait, which is thrown out to them by the fishing- vessels, shows 
that they are not at all dainty in their diet, and will swallow without 
hesitation any kind of floating organic matter. 

Large mackerel often eat smaller ones. Captain Collins has frequently 
found young mackerel three or four inches long in the stomachs of those 
full grown. This is generally noticeable only in the fall, and the young 
fish are probably those which have been hatched in the spring. 

In the fall of 1874 the writer made a trip upon a gill-net schooner to 
the grounds off Portland, Me., some distance to sea, for tbe purpose of 
studying the food of the mackerel, and found their stomachs full of a 
species of Thysano])oda and of a large copepod crustacean. The greater 
part of the food of mackerel consists, however, of minute crustaceans. 
Owing to the infinite abundance of these in the sea, mackerel probably 
have very little difficulty in finding food at almost any portion of the 
ocean visited by them, whether on the edge of the Gulf Stream or near 
the shore. 

In an interview with Capt. King Harding, of Swarnpscott, one of tlie 
most experienced mackerel catchers on our coasts, I obtained the follow- 
ing amusing observations: He described one kind which looked like 
spiders, which were red, and crawled over his hand when he took them up. 
They look like little spiders ; the mackerel are especially fond of them. 
At Boone Island, Maine, in July, 1850, the water all around the island 
was red for 100 yards from the shore; they crawled up the rock- weed 
on the shore until it was red. He took the sprays of rock- weed in his 
hand and i)ulled them slowly to him, and the mackerel, one and a half 
pound fish, would follow in quite to the rocks. He killed three with his 
oar, and tried to catch some in a basket by tolling them over it, but 
they were too quick for him. He asked his old skipper, Capt. Gorham 
Babson, what they were, and was told that they were "Boone Island 
Bed Bugs." And, said he, "Young man, when you see this kind of 
bait, no matter if you don't see any fish, never leave; the fish, will be 
there in a few days." 

Then there is another kind, called " Snappers." These are white, and 
dart rapidly about in the water; they are doubtless small crustaceans. 
He says that sometimes they swim at the surface, where the mackerel 
follow them. A few days before he had been standing on the stern of 
his vessel, and though he could see nothing under the water he knew 
the snappers were there about two feet below the surface, for he could 
see a school of mackerel swimming along, opening their mouths and 
taking in their food, and then letting the water out through their gills. 

When the mackerel are tolled up from 12 or 15 fathoms below the 
surface their stomachs are often full of bait ; so it is certain that these 
little animals swim at all depths. 

Another kind of food is red, and is hot to the hands. This is called 
"Cayenne"; it spoils the fish. 



[17] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Years ago, according to Captain Harding, mackerel did not school as 
they do now. 

When you see pollock jumping near the shore, it is a pretty good sign 
that there is plenty of mackerel fond. 

The presence of abundance of mackerel food is indicated by the great 
schools of seg-birds, particularly by the flocks of phalaropes, or sea- 
geese {Phalaropus horealis), as the fishermen call them, which congregate 
together, floating upon the water, and when seen in summer gives a sure 
sign of the presence of mackerel also. 

The various invertebrate animals preyed upon by mackerel are known 
to the fishermen by such names as "Shrimp," "Eed-seed," and "Cay- 
enne." 

"The wide spread distribution from shore seaward of the Thjsan- 
opoda and other minute Crustacea, which constitute to so great an ex- 
tent the food of the mackerel and herring on our shores, was proved," 
writes Professor Baird, "during atrip of the 'Speedwell' from Salem to 
Halifax in 187,7." At numerous points and at regular intervals on the 
way across, including the middle of the route, immense numbers of these 
shrimi) were met with and collected by. the towing net. They were 
found in especial abundance at Le Have Bank. These prove to be specifi- 
cally identical with those found in immense quantities in Eastport Har- 
bor at the surface. 

"That these same animals occur at least as far east as the Gulf 
Stream is shown by the list of the collections made by Professor S. I. Smith 
oft' the Georges near the edge of the Gulf Stream, and published in the 
Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. 
iii, July, 1874." 

Capt. Chester Marr, of Gloucester, confirms the statements of Captain 
Harding regarding the effects of "red-seed" upon mackerel; he states, 
that when mackerel are feeding on "red-seed" the fishermen have great 
trouble in keeping them sufficiently long to dress them properly. Their 
bellies soften at once. When the weather is good and dogfish are not 
troublesome, the common practice is to allow the fish to lie in the net 
until they have disi)osed of the food in their stomachs. Capt. Henry 
Willard, of the schooner " Henry Willard," of Portland, Me., carries a 
large net of coarse twine, which is susi)ended over the side of the vessel 
from two long booms. Into this he turns the fish and leaves them until 
the seed works out.* 

Captain Marr states that the "red-seed" is very troublesome to the 
men engaged in dressing the fish ; it makes their hands very sore, often 
causing the blood to run. A man can clean twice as many fish in a 
given time if he is not annoyed by the "red-seed" in their stomachs. 

Captain Marr describes another kind of mackerel food, which he calls 
"small brit," which, he says, resembles young herring, which also rots 

*TIiis "large net of coarse twiue" is the mackerel pocket described, iu the cliaj)ter 
on the purse-seine mackerel fishery. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [18] 

the fish. This is probably, as he supposes it to be, " white-bait" or the 
young of the sea herring, Clupea harengtis. It is kuown as "eye-bait" 
to the Canadian fishermeu. 

Captain Merchant tells me that when mackerel are found with "red- 
seed" in their stomachs fishermen are sure that they are on the right 
fishing grounds. 

I am told by Captain Collins that it is common for many of the Amer- 
ican fishermen to consider it a good sign of mackerel when they see 
floating seaweed, more especially eel grass, "chopped up," i, e., cut 
into short i^ieces, which they think is done by these fish. Perhaps 
there may be a good reason for this supposition, since the mackerel, while 
feeding on the diminutive shells with w^hich the weeds are covered, may 
also bite the latter in two. The presence of gaunets is also considered 
a good sign of mackerel. 

In England the food of the mackerel is called the "mackerel mint," 
and this is said to consist at certain seasons of the year of the sand- 
lants and five other fish, especially the herring and the sprat, while 
they have also been observed to devour, in the summer months, minute 
crustaceans, the swimming larvfe of tape-worms, and the embryos of the 
small spiral shell of the genus Eissoa, which, in its adult state, is found 
in great abundance upon seaweed. It was probably some animal of this 
kind which was referred to by Captain Harding in the statement above 
quoted, concerning the abundance of red seed about Boone Island. Mr. 
J. F. Whiteaves has recorded a similar habit for the mackerel of the Gulf 
of Saint Lawrence.* 

Professor Hind has pointed out certain relations which exist in the 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence between the mackerel and the lant, or sand-eel, 
which appears to be one of its most important articles of diet in tliese 
waters. I quote here in full his observations upon this subject, and also 
his views upon the relations of currents and tides to the presence of 
mackerel food, and the constant movements of the schools of fish: 

" The movements of the ma.ckerel, like those of the cod, and indeed 
of most species of fish, are determined at different seasons of the year 
by the geographical position of its food; and the first important kind 
of food which appears to lure the mackerel inshore, after spawning in 
the Gulf -of Saint Lawrence, is the launce or sand-eel. 

"The relation of the launce or sand-eel {Ammodytes americanus) to 
the mackerel is very much greater than appears at the first blush, and 
resembles the relation of the herring to the cod in general, and in par- 
ticular the relation of the so-called Norwegian 'SuU cod,' or launce 
cod, to this widespread and important bait-fish. The approach of the 
launce to the coast in spring is most probably the cause why the so- 
called spring cod fishing suddenly ceases on many banks and shoals, 
commencing again at different localities two and three weeks later. 

* Eeport on the secoud deep-sea dredging expedition of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 
1872. 



[19] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

'■'■ The cod leaves tlie banks and shoals to meet and to follow tlie 
launce as they approach the coast. In the same manner they meet 
aod follow the caplin, guided no doubt by the peculiar odor developed 
by each species at the api^roach of the spawning- season. 

''But it is the habit of the sand eel of burying itself in the sand be- 
tween the tides, or in submerged sand beaches, that leads the mackerel 
so close inshore. 

"There can be little doubt that a similar indraught and outdraught 
of mackerel and other fish occur, in our waters when the launce leave 
the deep sea to approach the land, or when they return to the deep sea 
again. Unlike manj^ of the shrimps and larval forms on which the 
mackerel feed, which are drifted to and fro by winds and currents, the 
launce is independent of the wind; but it is only in certain favorable 
localities frequented by this fish that the burying process between tide- 
marks, from which it derives its name, can be easily effected; hence, 
these resorts are not only valuable as bait grounds, but generally noted 
mackerel grounds, such as Seven Islands, and some parts of Bay Cha- 
leurs, and part of the gulf coast of JS^ew Brunswick. 

"This bait-fish approaches the sandy beaches fringing the shores of 
the gulf in the early summer months to spawn; and here the mackerel 
are found pursuing them while engaged in depositing their compara- 
tively large reddish-colored ova on the sands between high and low 
water. Hence, during flood tide, and in the launce season, mackerel 
are commonly taken close inshore on tliese coasts, in pursuit of the 
launce; and the best catches are said to be made during the period of 
high tide, for the following reason : In dull, cloudy weather the launce 
buries itself in the sand left bare by the ebbing tides ; but in bright, 
hot weather it rarely seeks the shelter of the sands except near low- 
water mark, probably because the hent of the sun would be oppressive. 
The breadth of sandy ground in which the launce buries itself for the 
brief period between high and low water marks is thus dependent upon 
the clearness of the sky. 

"A continuance of cloudy weather is conducive to this kind of close 
inshore fishery; whereas a bright sky, and a day with a drying wind, 
leads the launce to select the narrow bands of sandy beach near the 
margin of ebb-tide, which always remain moist. In cloudy weather 
with a moist wind, the area in which the launce bury themselves and 
emerge during the incoming tide is thus very much greater than in 
bright, hot weather; and it is not unfrequently found by experience 
that the mackerel catch in such localities is much greater in cloudy 
weather than in bright weather, because the bait ground is then far 
more extensive close iu shore. 

"As the summer advances and the launce retire to deep water the 
mackerel feed upon the free- swimming and floating embryonic forms of 
crustaceans; among the latter the zoea of different forms of crabs are 
the most common. Adult shrimps of many species form also a large por- 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [20] 

tion of tlieir food, aud the infinite numbers of these forms of life which 
exist in the sea, from the coast line to a thousand miles from land, may 
be inferred from the fact that, together with fish, they form the great 
staple of food of seals in northern seas. 

" Dr. Eobert Brown states that during the sealing season in Spitz- 
bergen seas he has taken out of the stomachs of seals various species of 
Gammarus {G. Sahini ; G. loricatus ; G. pinguis : G. dentaUisj G. imita- 
tus, &c.), collectively known to whalers under the name ^ mountebank 
shrimps,^ deriving the designation from their peculiar agility in water.* 

" These small crustaceans are found in countless numbers on the great 
outlying banks off the North American coast, and in the Labrador seas 
they are also in great profusion. 

" It is of special importance to notice that very many if not all of 
these free-swimming creatures in the sea, from invisible microscopic forms 
to the largest shrimp, sink to different zones of water or rise to the sur- 
face with the variations in temperature and changes in the direction 
and force of the wind. In fine weather ivhen the food is at the surface, 
the mackerel, the herring, and other surface feeders swim open-mouthed 
against the wind. Dr. Brown states that the right- whale and most 
of the whale species feed in a similar manner. The right- whale feed- 
ing, swims leisurely at the rate of about four miles an hour. Mackerel 
when feeduig come often by millions, like a swiftly-moving ripple on 
the water, with eager staring eyes and mouths distended to entrap the 
floating prey. Many of the free-swimming Pteropeda are active only 
during the night time, sinking during the day to a certain zone of 
depth. 

"The effect of currents and tides, assisted by winds, is to drive these 
free-swimming forms towards the different shores and into land-locked 
or sheltered bays. On the shores of the open sea a continued land 
breeze drives them far out to sea, and the fish following them will be 
lost to view. Off the coast of the United States the mackerel ground 
is not unfreauently found near the summer limit of the Gulf Stream 
w^here wide-spreading eddies prevail, caused by the meeting of the 
great Labrador current flowing in an opposite direction, or the surging 
up of the Arctic underflow. In these vast eddies the temperature is 
greatly reduced by the mixing of almost ice-cold water from beneath 
with a warm overlying stratum. 

"It is here too that the free-swimming mackerel food will congregate, 
sometimes at the surface, at other times at different depths, dependent 
upon the temperature of the mixed waters. In the vicinity of the south 
edge of the Grand Bank of Newfoundland the line of contact between 
the Arctic and the Gulf str )ams is sometimes very marked by the local 
currents which 'boil and form strong eddies.' The line of contact of 
the two great cold and warm currents is continually changing for hun- 
dreds of miles with the varying seasons and under the influence of winds; 
* ''Ou the seals of Greenland." — Dr. 11. Broivn. 



[21] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

lience also tlie cliauges in geograpTiical position and in tlie depth or zone 
of tbe open-sea mackerel grounds.* 

"Inshore the floating and free-swimming food is drifted to and fro by 
"winds and tides, and great accnmiilations are sometimes thrown up 
upon the beaches in windrows after storms. This floating and swim- 
ming food gathers in eddies, either near the coast line or at the junc- 
tion of opposing tidal waves or currents. Hence, along sheltered and 
embayed coasts, confronting the open sea in the vicinity of banks where 
great tidal currents and eddies are formed, or in the gulf and estuary of 
the Saint Lawrence, where two opposite and whoU}* different tides drag- 
ging along the coast-line approach to meet, there will be the mackerel 
ground of the fishermen, but not necessarily at the surface.'''' 

The winged Pteropods very properly form an important part of mack- 
erel food, as they sink and rise with changes of the temperature of the 
zone or sheet of water in which they are feeding. 

o. — Eeproduction. 

Although little is actually known concerning the spawning habits of 
the mackerel compared with those of fish wiiich, like the shad and the 
salmon, have been artificially propagated, it is perhaps safe to say that 
the subject is understood in a general way. The testimony of reliable 
observers among the fishermen of our coast and the coast of the British 
Provinces indicates that the spawning takes place in rather deep water 
all along the shore from the eastern end of Long Island to Eastport, Me., 
along the coast of JSTova Scotia, and in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The 
spawning season occurs in May in southern New England, in May and 
June in Massachusetts Bay, and in June in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 
and on the Bradley Banks and about the Magdalenes early in the month, 
and, according to Hind, on the northeast coast of Newfoundland toward 
the end of the month.t 

* There are no uiackerel-fisliiug grounds within 250 miles or more of the Grand 
Bank, and certainly none nearer than 400 miles of its southern edge. It is possible 
tliat mackerel liave occasionally beeu seen, or stray specimens captured, nearer the 
Grand Bank than this, but no mackerel lishermen would think of trying for these fish 
east of the west coast of Newfoundland. There are but three instances on record where 
mackerel fishermen have gone so far east as that. "Whatever influence may be ex- 
erted upon other forms of ocean life by the meeting of the Gulf Stream and the 
Arctic current, it can be quite safely asserted that the mackerel is never found in 
summer near the junction of these currents, excepting, perhaps, on the southern edge 
of George's Bank and otf the south shoal of Nantucket. These localities are the near- 
est mackerel-fishing grounds to the Gulf Stream of any on the United States coast. 
And even here mackerel are rarely or never taken nearer than 40 or 50 miles from the 
northern edge of the stream. — J. W. Coi.Lixs. 

t During the entire month of June mackerel are taken in the Bay of Saint Law- 
rence with roes well developed. Having been engaged in the mackerel fishery in the 
Gulf for twenty-two consecutive seasons, ten of which I went to the Bay early in 
June, I have therefore had abundant o])i)ortunity to learn the spawning season of the 
mackerel in that region. It is my opinion that mackerel spawn in the Gulf of Saint 



KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [22] 

Capt. Benjamin Asliby, of Noank, Conn., states that in the spring of 
1877 mackerel spawned in great numbers in Vineyard Sound and Buz- 
zard's Bay. Many mackerel were taken in the ])ounds, and the eggs 
were so ripe that when the fish were thrown from the net to the boat 
the eggs escaped to such an extent that in cleaning out the boat after- 
wards he found at least half a bushel at the bottom. This was as early 
as the second of May, and continued through the month. 

Capt. R. H. Hurlbert, of Gloucester, found the spawn running out of 
mackerel taken off Kettle Island, south of Cape Ann, in May and June. 

Capt. Henry Webb, who owns a weir on Milk Island, under the 
shadow of the Thatcher's Island lights, obtains many mackerel every 
year in his nets. He informs me that when they first make their ap- 
pearance, about the first of June, the spawn is running out of them and 
many of them are half through the process of spawning. The eggs will 
spurt from a female lish in a stream six feet long, and there is a large 
percentage of females in the catch, probably two-thirds of the whole. 

Lawrence some time between the 1st and tlie 15th of July. Have caught theiu iu 
abundance and full of roe as late as the 4th and 5th of July, and it is exceedingly 
rare to find spent mackerel previous to the 20th of June. In the period when hook- 
and-liue fishing was most prosperous, the fishermen usually planned to leave the Gulf 
about the first week in July if they had succeeded in getting nearly a fare of mack- 
erel previous«to that time, since while the fish were spawning, or between the 1st and 
15th of the month, but little could be done, as the mackerel sunk at that time, and 
would not readily take the hook. The fishermen, therefore, knowing that they could 
catch few fish during this period, between "hay and grass," as they termed it, usually 
improved the opportunity thus afforded of making their passage home and refitting 
for another trip with comparatively little loss of time. Apparentij one of the most 
favorite breeding grounds for mackerel in the Ga^f of Saint Lawrence is the area along" 
the shores of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (on the north side of the lat- 
ter) lying inside of a line drawn from North Cape to Point Miscou. Bank Bradley is 
also a breeding-ground for mackerel of considerable importance. The fish seem to 
assemble on the grounds mentioned above during June, in a depth varying from 3 to 
40 fathoms. The greater part, however, are found in a depth varying from 10 to 20 
fathoms. The spawning season being over, they usually stay on the same grounds, 
though later in the summer and during autumn the mackerel were formerly abundant 
around the Magdalenes and the bend of Prince Edward Island; when the fall migra- 
tion takes place they move farther south. It is probable that large numbers of mack- 
erel may deposit their spawn around the Magdalene Islands, though it is worthy of 
note that but few or no fish have been taken in that locality on hook and line during 
the month of June. Considerable quantities are, however, caught by the gill-net fish- 
ermen early in June, though the catch has always been small compared with that 
formerly obtained hy hook-and-line fishing in the western part of the Bay. — J. W. 
Collins. 

As corroborative of the views of Captain Collins, I give the statements of Capts. 
Andrew Leighton and Joseph Rowe, two of the most keenly observant, and in con- 
sequence the most succe-isful, of the old school Cape Ann "mackerel killers." The 
former writes to Captain Collins : ''My observations are in harmony with yours." The 
latter remarks: '' I have always thought that the mackerel in the Bay of Saint Law- 
rence sunk about the last of June to spawn. From the first to the middle of July was 
always a very dull time to catch mackerel on hooks. When the mackerel sunk they 
were full of spawn. When we got them again, about the middle of July, thej' would 
have the moat of the spawn out of them and be some fat." 



[23] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

The spawn begins to dry up after tlie first of August, and young fish 
begin to appear about the 4tli of August. He thinks that it takes mack- 
erel four or five weeks to spawn; after that they begin to grow fat, and 
when they are fat there is no sign of spawn to be seen, the male and 
female not being distinguishable. 

The growth is rapid, and in about seven weeks the young fish are about 
four or five inches long. 

Mackerel spawn abundantly in Grover's Beach at a depth of one and 
a half to two fathoms. The eggs are very minute and the old mackerel 
feed upon them greedily. 

Ca])taiu Fisher, of Portland, Me., told me, in 1874, that when the 
mackerel come in they are almost empty and have a muddy taste. 
They first engage in spawning, but toward the last of June they have 
finished and begin to grow fat. 

Captain Hurlbert caught a dozen fish ofi' Camden July 1, 1870, which 
were half spawned and had spawn running out of them. 

According to Mr. Wilkins, of Two Isles, Grand Manan, the mack- 
erel spawns there on the rocks and sand in water from 1 foot to 10 feet 
or more in depth. This is in the first half of June. The spawn is in 
bunches and does not float on the water. 

During the spawning season mackerel are taken in seines, as they will 
not bite and are then very poor. They come again in September and 
October, and are then taken with the hook. 

Mr. Hall, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, says that mack- 
erel spawn only once in seven years in large numbers, this period rep- 
resenting the interval between the successive large catches. The mack- 
erel strike in there about the 10th of June. They spawn about the 2d 
or 3d of July on the Bradley Bank to the north of Prince Edward Is- 
land. At thajt time they have been taken with spawn running out of 
them. They cease to bite for several weeks while spawning. One of 
the principal spawning- grounds on our coast appears to be on the Nan- 
tucket Shoals, where for a period of three or four weeks after their first 
appearance the mackerel hug the bottom and rarely take the hook. At 
this time there is a lull in the prosecution of the mackerel fishery, al-' 
though before its beginning great quantities are taken in the purse- 
seines far south along the coast. After the close of the spawning sea- 
son the old fish are said to be very poor, but take the hook greedily 
along the entire coast, as also before the beginning of the spawning sea- 
son ; although the fish first brought to market are sold at a high price 
on account of their previous scarcity, it is not until after the close of 
the si)awning season and the subsequent fattening up of the fish that 
they attain their highest excellence as an article of food. Fall mack- 
erel are well understood to be by far the best fish. Storer, in his his- 
tory of the fishes of Massachusetts, remarks: '^From the 10th of May 
to the loth of June they appear at the entrance to Massachusetts Bay, 
having been a few days previous at l!i^antucket and the Vineyard Sound. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [24] 

!Nme-tenths of those first seen are males, and they are all large but poor, 
"weighing from one pound to one pound and a half. At their first ap- 
X)earance they will not take the hook, and are therefore captured in 
seines." 

The contrast between the statements of Storer and Captain Webb 
should be carefully noted. The former states that the early fish taken 
near the end of Cape Cod are mostly males. This would naturally be 
the case, as the females at this time are either engaged in spawning or 
are perhaps so weak that they would not be likely to come to the sur- 
face. At Milk Island, however, which seems to be in the middle of the 
spawning region, the majority of the fish are females. 

We are indebted to Capt. I^. E. Atwood for the most complete series 
of observations upon the spawning of the mackerel which has ever 
been made, and what he has seen he shall be allowed to tell in his own 
words : 

"I have many seasons been engaged in fishing for mackerel in our 
bay with gill-nets. I watched the mackerel more particularly in regard 
to their time for spawning. In 1856, owing to the fact that a measure 
had passed the Massachusetts legislature authorizing the appointment 
of three commissioners to make investigations with regard to the arti- 
ficial propagation of the fish, and that I expected to be named one of 
the commissioners, 1 went to the upper part of Massachusetts Bay, 
where it is about twenty miles broad, and I found these spawning 
mackerel there near the bottom. This year the mackerel came in about 
the middle of May; few at first. On the 20th I went out for the first 
time with my drifting-nets all night in the bay; I caught 2,250 mack- 
erel; on the following night I caught 3,520. When 1 first began to 
catch them I observed that the spawn had come to its full size, though 
it was not free to run from them, not being yet fully matured. On or 
about the 1st of June we found that some of them were depositing 
spawn, and as I took them from the nets the spawn ran freely. On the 
5th of June I took the mature eggs as they came from the fish and put 
them in alcohol, marking the date, as I considered this time the middle 
of the spawning season. (By the 10th of June the fish had all depos- 
ited their sjjawn, and they then proceeded to the grounds w^here they 
expected to meet with better food in order to fatten and recruit. The 
spawning takes place at a depth of from five to fifteen fathoms.) Thirty 
days after I went out in the bay and found any quantity of schools of 
little mackerel which were, I should think, about two inches long, 
though their length might have been a little less. I took a number of 
specimens and put them in alcohol, marking the date. Twenty-five 
days later I procured another lot of them which had grown to double 
that size. I don't mean to imply that they were twice as long but 
twice as heavy. I put them also in alcohol, marking the date. The 
first time I subsequently went to Boston I called on Professor Agassiz 
and gave him the specimens. He said that he had never before been 



[25] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

able to ascertain these facts so clearly and so well, and that he was 
very much i)leased with them. I watched the growth of these young 
mackerel all along, and I saw them grow considerably from month to 
month, so much so that the same fall, in the latter part of October, I 
caught some of them with a very small mesh net and found they had 
growu to a length of GJ or 7 inches. I kept a small quantity of them, 
split, salted, and packed them, in accordance with the Massachusetts 
inspection law, as No. 4's, and, since mackerel were then scarce and 
very high in price, I sold them for as much as $6 a barrel." 

"Much yet remains to be learned in regard to the spawning season 
of the American mackerel" (writes Professor Baird), "and little more 
is known of this except in regard to the Euroi3eau variety. It is, how- 
ever, well established by the researches of Sars that this fish, like the 
cod, and many of the flat fish, &c., spawns in the open sea, sometimes 
at a great distance from the land, at others closer in shore. Sars found 
them on the outer banks of the coast of Norway; and Mr. Matthew 
Dunn, of Mevagissey, England, communicates to Land and Water of his 
observations of mackerel found, with ripe spawn, 6 miles from the 
coast.* 

"Theflsh taken in the wiers and pounds on Vineyard Sound and about 
Cape Cod, in the early spring, are filled with rijie spawn; and that the 
operation of spawning on the American coast is shown by the immense 
schools of small fish that are taken throughout the summer, of various 
sizes, from a few inches up, and from Buzzard's Bay to Portland and 
Penobscot Bay. No si^ecies of young fish is, at times, more abundant 
throughout the summer season than the mackerel. 

"The Qgg of the mackerel is exceedingly minute, not larger than that 
of the alewife or gaspereau. It appears to be free from an adhesive en- 
velope, such as pertains to the egg of the herring, and in consequence 
of which it agglutinates together, and adheres to gravel, the rocks, or 
the sea-weed at the bottom. As with the egg of the cod, that of the 

* SPAWNING OF MACKEREL. 

Sir: I have been a.sain fortunate in taking a mackerel alive in the act of spawning, 
on the night of May 10, about 6 miles from land. A better specimen could not possi- 
bly be had, and the roe ran freely without assistance. I got a bucket of sea-water, 
and allowed the fish to spawn in it; for some time I had a difficulty in finding what 
became of it, as the globules would not reflect the light of the candle like the pilchard 
spawn; but by running the water into a clean bottle, and holding it to the light, I 
lound them floating on the surface, but not so buoyant as the pilchard roe. In this 
state they continued for about half an hour, and then gradually sank to the bottom; 
but, unlike the pilchard spawn, they retained their vitality there for more than 
twelve hours. With the daylight the globules could scarcely be discerned by looking 
directly down into the water; but on holding it towards the light in a bottle they 
could be seen, with that healthy, bright, silvery hue so peculiar to living ones, each 
marked with a dark spot in the center. Believing the pilchard spawn would have 
reached you, I did not send you any of these. As I sent that spawn by post, I sup- 
pose the bottle must have been broken in the post-bag. — Matthias Dunn (Mevagissey, 
Cornwall, May 15, 1«71.) {Land and Water, May 20, ^53.) 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [26] 

mackerel is provided with an oil globule^ wliich makes it float nearly 
at the level of the surface." 

I am indebted to Mr. Frederick W. True for a count of the eggs 
in two mackerel taken at Woods Holl, Mass., in May, 1873. One of 
these (No. 10512, U. S. Kat. Mus.), contained 363,107, the other (No. 
15205), 393,887. 

The only enumeration of mackerel eggs previously recorded is that 
made bj" Thomas Harmer, in 1764, and published in the Philosophical 
Transactions of London, vol. 57, p. 285. He found in one large mack- 
erel, weighing 1| pounds, 454,961 eggs; in a second, of much the same 
weight, 430,846; and in a third, weighing about 1 pound 2 ounces, 
546,681. His estimate is probably too large. 

6. — Eate of growth and size. 

The rate of growth of the mackerel during the first summer has been 
quite carefully studied by Captain Atwood; and the same authority 
has, perhaps, more satisfactorily than any other interpreted the facts 
from which may be deduced the conclusions as to their growth year by 
year. 

Eeferring to the small fish, 6J or 7 inches in length, which he believed 
tO'be the young of the year, caught by him in October, 1856, he says: 
"Fish of this size are sometimes called 'spikes,' but I do not know their 
proper name. The next year I think they are the 'blinks,' being one 
year old; the following year they are the 'tinkers,' two years old, and 
the year after they return to us as the second-size, three years old. 
It is probable that the fish reaches its full maturity in four years." He 
continues: "The first mackerel that come in are very large and spawn- 
ers, but these do not bite at the hook; and you don't catch them with 
the seine, because they don't show themselves. You would not know of 
their presence if you did not set nets for them. When they are taken 
in nets set anywhere along the coast, at Provincetown, &c., a good 
many people imagine that they are the remnant of the mackerel which 
were there the year before, and which have been imbedded in the mnd; 
and when they taste these fish thej^ fancy that they taste mud. When 
the next school arrives there appear mackerel of different sizes, which 
take the hook. They are carried to Boston market and are sold fresh 
in their season. They are not sold by Aveight, but are culled, and are 
denominated as follows: Large ones, second-size, tinkers, and blinks. 
When the large ones are worth 12 cents, the others may sell: second 
size, 8 cents; tinkers, 4 cents, and blinks, 1^ cents. These prices may 
fluctuate before a large proportion of one or more of the above-named 
kinds at the same time. Any man who is well acquainted with them 
will make the same culling, as there seems to be a line of demarkation 
between the difi'erent kinds which stands out prominently. 

"Admitting this to be the fact, those that come as blinks are from 



[27] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

Ibo spawn of the year before, while those which are called tinkers are 
from the blinks of the year previous, being the two-year-old fish; and 
those that are called second-size are from the tinkers of the year before, 
when tliey grow up and mix with the bigger ones, I don't know how 
they live, or much about them. This is my opinion about these matters. 
You will find fishermen tell you they think that mackerel are six or 
sev^en years in getting their growth." 

IMackerel, when full-grown, are from 17 to 18 inches in length; some- 
times they attain a larger size. Captain Collins has caught individnals 
measuring twenty-two inches. In August, 1880, a school of mackerel 
was taken in the vicinity of Plymouth ; they weighed from three to 
three and a half pounds each, and were from 19 to 19^ inches long. 
They were regarded as extraordinarily large, and a barrel of them were 
sent to the Fishery Exhibition at Berlin as an illustration of the perfec- 
tion to which the mackerel attains in this country. Although the size 
just mentioned is unusual at present, in past years many thousands of 
barrels have been talien nearly, if not quite, as large. The size varies 
from year to year, sometimes very few barrels which can be rated as 
No. I's being found in our waters. A JSTo. 1 mackerel, according to the 
jMassachu setts inspection laws, measures 13 inches from the tip of the 
snout to the crotch or fork of the caudal fin. The average length from 
year to year for the whole coast is probably not far from 12 inches in 
length, and a weight of twelve to sixteen ounces. The following quo- 
tations from writers of two centuries . ago are interesting, since they 
show that large mackerel were known to the early colonists of New 
England: 

"The mackerel, of which there is choicefull plenty all summer long; 
in the spring they are ordincirily 18 inches long; afterwards there is 
none taken but what are smaller." — Joselyn, 1G75. 

"The Makarels are the baite for the Basse, & these have been chased 
into the shallow waters, where so many thousands have shott them- 
selves a shore with the surfe of the Sea that whole hogges-heads have 
been taken up on the Sands ; & for length they excell any of other parts: 
they have bin measured 18. & 19. inches in length & seaven breadth: 
& are taken with a drayee, (as boats use to pass to & froe at Sea on 
business,) in very greate quantities all along the Coaste. 

"The Fish is good, salted; for store against the winter, as well as 
fresh, & to be accounted a good commodity."* 

7. — Enemies. 

Captain Collins writes: "The gannet is one of the most destructive 
enemies of the mackerel. I have often seen these birds so heavily 
weighted Avith these fish that they were unable to rise on the approach, 
of the vessel until they had disgorged from two to four good sized mack- 

' New England's Fish, John Smith, 1622. U. S. F. C. Rep., 153. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [28] 

erel. This is so cominon an occurrence that there are but few fishermen 
who have not witnessed it." 

" Porpoises and whales may also be included in the list of enemies of 
the mackerel. It is by no means an unusual sight on the fishing- grounds 
to see hundreds of the former rushing and leaping among schools of 
mackerel scattering them in every direction." 

"The shark, known to fishermen as the ^mackerel shark,' is one of 
the principal enemies of the mackerel. I have often seen them chasing 
mackerel, and, when jigging was practiced, it was a common occurrence 
for sharks to drive off a school from alongside of a vessel." 

Dogfish often hover around the outside of large schools of mackerel, 
and doubtless feed on them. Great difficulty is sometimes experienced 
in saving fish that have been inclosed in a purse-seine, owing to the im- 
mense numbers of dogfish that gather around, and in their efforts to 
eat the mackerel, which they see through the meshes, they bite off the 
twine, making large holes in the seine through which the inclosed fish 
escape." 

The dogfish is doubtless a dangerous foe to the mackerel weakened 
by the act of spawning, and remaining near the bottom. An old fisher- 
man has described to me with great animation how greedily the dog- 
fish devour the mackerel which have become gilled in the nets, how 
they follow them to the surface and linger about the vessel while the 
process of cleaning is going on, drinking the blood of the fish as it 
flows from the scuppers. 

Among the other principal enemies of the mackerel are the bluefish, 
tunny, and cod. The appearance of a school of bluefish in waters cro vf ded 
with mackerel is an almost sure signal for their disappearance. 

The young mackerel are eaten also by squids. Professor Verrill has 
recorded the following description of the maneuvers of the squid known 
to zoologists bj' the name Ommastrephes Ulecebrosa : 

"Messrs. S. I. Smith and Oscar Harger observed it at Provincetown, 
Mass., among the wharves, in large numbers, July 28, engaged in cap- 
turing and devouring the young mackerel, w^hich were swimming about 
in 'schools,' and at that time were about four or five inches long. In 
attacking the mackerel they would suddenly dart backward among the 
fish with the velocity of an arrow, and as suddenly turn obliquely to the 
right or left and seize a fish, which was almost instantly killed by a 
bite in the back of the neck with the sharp beaks. The bite was always 
made in the same place, cutting out a triangular piece of flesh, and was 
deep enough to i)enetrate to the spinal cord. The attacks were not 
always successful, and were sometimes repeated a dozen times before 
one of these active and wary fishes could be caught. Sometimes after 
making several unsuccessful attempts one of the squids would sud- 
denly drop to the bottom, and, resting upon the sand, would change its 
color to that of the sand so perfectly as to be almost invisible. In this 



[29] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

way it would wait until the fishes came back, and when they were swim- 
ming- close to or over the ambuscade, the squid, by a sudden dart, would 
be pretty sure to secure a fish. Ordinarily when swimming they were 
thickly spotted with red and brown, but when darting among the mack- 
erel they appeared translucent and pale. The mackerel, however, 
seemed to have learned that the shallow water is the safest for them 
and would hug the shore as closely as possible, so that in pursuing 
them many of the squids became stranded and perished by hundreds, 
for when they once touch the shore they begin to pump water from 
their siphons with great energy, and this usually forces them farther 
and farther up the beach. At such times they often discharge their 
ink in large quantities. The attacks on the young mackerel were ob- 
served mostly at or near high-water, for at other tiTues the mackerel 
were seldom seen, though the squids were seen swimming about at all 
hours ; and these attacks were observed both in the day and evening." 



B.— STUDIES OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE MACKEREL 

SCHOOLS. 

8. — Hind on the causes of irreoular movements. 

In closing this chapter upon the natural history of the mackerel, it 
seems appropriate to quote from the writings of Professor Hind some 
very important paragrai^hs in which he has attempted to interpret the 
irregular movements of the mackerel schools in our waters, and to ex- 
plain the causes of the alleged annual variation of their numbers : 

"What is the proper interpretation of the movements of the mackerel 
from its first appearance in the spring to its disappearance in the fall? 
These movements var;^ with the geograi)hical position of local schools 
of this fish. On the coasts of the United States and Xova Scotia, its 
annual movements resemble in all particulars those of the same species 
in European seas where the schools have a free and unobstructed ocean 
in which to seek their prey. 

" In the spring, at the end of April and May, the Atlantic schools of 
this fish which have wintered oft" the coasts approach the laud in sejja- 
rate bodies, full of spawu and poor, coming direct from winter homes 
where they have remained in a torpid condition, partially buried in 
sand or mud. After spawning, the different schools feed for a short 
time on the fry of fish, and as the temperature rises they go out to sea 
in search of free-swimming crustaceans and larval forms of food accord- 
ing as they are distributed by wind and tide. 

" They pursue this food against the current or tide. They often feed 
during the night, because at that period great numbers of free-swim- 
ming larvalforms approach the surface. This is one reason why mackerel 
schools are frequently missed by fisher uien, and areas supposed to be 
deserted may really abound with this fish, which would be discovered 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [30] 

by sink-net fishing. The currents are coustantly changing with the 
seasons under the influence of temperature and prevailing winds, hence 
the course of direction and depth of the food is constantly changing 
also. 

"Sometimes it is carried far off from the land, at other times towards 
it, and the mackerel schools following the food move first in one direc- 
tion, then in another, and range from close inshore to fifty miles and 
more seawards, and often, doubtless, at a considerable dei)th helow the 
surface. 

" The general direction of these movements, when plotted on pax)er, 
would be a series of irregular circles or elongated ellipses, the range of 
each school or group of schools being opposite, and often adjacent to 
that part of the coast where they spawn. 

"As the fall approaches, owing to the diminution in the supply of 
their floating food out at sea, they come more inland. 

"All the free-swimming larval forms of nlost species of shrimps, 
crabs, lobsters, sea-urchins, starfish, sea-worms, &c., have disappeared 
in the oi^en sea, after passing through their final transformation. But 
near the shore there are great numbers of other forms of life, which are 
developed later in the year. Coming inshore to feed on these on the 
Atlantic coast, the mackerel are found by American fisbermen later 
and later on their return voyage to the southwest, which gives rise to 
the impression that they are following the schools, when they are only 
meeting with fresh schools approaching the shore from their feeding- 
grounds. Similar movements occur on the Atlantic coast of ISTova 
Scotia and Cape Breton. As winter approaches, beginning at Cape 
Breton in November, the different schools retire to their winter homes 
off the coast in deep water later and later from north to south. 

"In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, where land is, as it were, on all sides, 
the local schools come from their winter haunts to the banks and beaches 
of the Magdalens. of Prince Edward Island, in the Bay Chaleur, &c., 
to spawn about the first week in June. They retire after spawning lo 
deep water, and meet the incoming sand-launce. They follow the sand- 
launce inshore or on to banks, and for some weeks feed on these fish. 
When tlie sand-launce again retires to deep water, the season of the 
small crustaceans has arrived, and these by tidal action, already de- 
scribed, and winds, are concentrated near the coast lines of Prince Ed- 
ward Island, New Brunswick, the north and south shore of the Estuary 
and Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the shores of Gape Breton. On all 
these coasts the effect of the single and confluent tides, dragging along 
the coast line and retarded by it, is to produce eddies, where the free- 
swimming food concentrates. The course of direction of the different 
schools duting the summer is thus dependent upon winds and tides, 
and their movements would, if correctly plotted, resemble long narrow 
ellipses adjacent to the coast, which are doubtless many times repeated. 

"At the approach of winter the different schools seek their winter 
quarters opposite and near to the places where they spawned in the 



[31] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



preceding spring, as is the case of the scbools on the Atlantic coasts. 
In these particulars their movements resemble those of different species 
of tish which feed and move in great schools in directions outlined by 
circles or ellipses throughout the period during which they are at the 
surface.* 

*Itis a fact well kuown to all experienced, mackerel fislieriuen that during the 
mouth of May and the early part of June large bodies of mackerel pass along the 
shores of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton from westto east, and while many of these fish 
move through the waters of Chfdabucto Bay and the Straits of Canso to the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence, other schools pass in around the east end of Cape Breton Island, their 
destination being the same as those fish taking the shorter route. No better evidence 
of this migratory habit can be given than the fact that at this season of the year the 
fishermen along the Nova Scotian coast and about the Strait of Canso are busily em- 
ployed in catching mackerel both in gill-nets and in drag-seines. On some occasions 
when the season has been excejjtionally favorable the amount of mackerel so taken 
has often been very great. This movement of the mackerel is so regular and so well- 
defined that the fishermen rarely fail to tell within a few days, or, perhaps, even a 
few hours of the time when they will appear on certain portions of the coast. The 
fall migrations are quite as regular. As the season advances and the temperature 
of the water decreases, the mackerel, instead of simply changing their ijosition into 
deeper water near their summer habitat, as has been stated by Professor Hind, move 
in vast bodies towards the southern part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, frequently 
striking in a succession of waves, as it were, on the northern shores of Cape Breton 
Island, where, deflected from their southern course, thej^ divide into two streams or 
branches, one passing through the Strait of Causo, and the other out round the north 
cape of the island, by its eastern and southern sides, and. so on up along the south 
coast of Nova Scotia. The mackerel which are found about the Magdalene Islands 
during the summer and early autumn apparently move in a nearly direct line towards 
the northeast end of Cape Breton Island when tliej' begin their fall migration. I have 
often had occasion to notice, in a practical way, these movements, the knowledge of 
which is of vital importance to the fishermen and of considerable interest to the nat- 
uralist. On one occasion in the fall of 1837 an immense body of mockerel was found 
along the north shore of Cape Breton, and on the last day that the fish were seen the 
schools came near the surface of the water, and I feel safe in saying, from actual ob- 
servation, that they moved at a rate of no less than three or four miles per hour in the 
direction of the north cape of the island. On another occasion, a body of mackerel that 
was found near Amherst Island (one of the Magdalenes") one day. were met with the 
following morning about 30 miles distant from the first locality, in the direction of the 
north caj)e of Cape Breton Island, towards which they were moving at the rate of 
one or two miles an hour. I have myself seen schools of mackerel ofi:' the Nova 
Scotian coast, in the fall, moving rapidly in a westerly direction, but all etforts to 
catch them with a hook failed, since they seemed to pay no regard whatever to toll 
bait. All of my own observations and those of the Nova Scotian fishermen with whom 
I have been brought in contact, lead me to believe that mackerel will not bite the 
hook to anj' extent during their fall migrations along the southern coasts of Nova 
Scotia. This is all the more remarkable since they seem to take the hook very eagerly 
tip to the last moment of their stay on their feeding-grounds in the gulf. The spring 
and fall migrations of the mackerel on our own coast are carried on with equal regu- 
larity and precision. On more than one occasion, in autumn, I have followed these 
fish day after day in their progress to the south and west along the shores of Maine 
and Massachusetts. An instance of this kind occurred in the fall of 1SG2, when I caught 
mackerel nearly down to the Fishing Rip on the Nantucket shoals. These fish were 
moving rapidly southward, and the schools cotild be kept alongside of the vessel only 
a short time, and each trial had to be made two or three miles farther south than the 
drevious one. At another time, in the fall of 1870, the mackerel moved in large schools 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AXD FISHERIES. [32] 

" Sars has sliown tliat this form of movement is taken by the herring 
on the Norwegian coast.* 

" The mackerel are i)ursued by cod and hake, and tliese fish gather 
where offal is thrown over from vessels on which the mackerel are cleaned. 
As a natural consequence the mackerel avoid tlie sea areas where their 
enemies are congregated, and fishermen attribute the desertion of the 
mackerel-ground directly to the throwing of oft'al overboard. Cod, and 
probably hake, follow up the scent of offal or food of any description car- 
ried by currents with remarkable facility, as may be witnessed during 
the process of jigging for cod in calm and clear waters. On looking 
over the side of the boat, with a man engaged in jigging at the bow 
or stern, as soon as a fish is wounded merely by the jigger and blood 
flows from the wound, the creature may be seen to dart here and there 
in pain. The neighboring fish of the cod tribe are attracted by the scent 
and followthe blood ' tracks' against the current, hunting their wounded 
comrade to the death. A fish coming across the stream of scent, imme- 
diately follows it up, and it is thus that fish offal or bait thrown over- 
board in the open sea, or some distance from shore, gathers the fish on 
the course of the current. In harbors and confined or landlocked bays, 
where there is no constant strong current to carry off the results of 
decomi)osition, and where the sea-scavengers are not sufficiently numer- 
ous to consume it, the effect cannot fail to be extremely in^ejudicial to 
young fry and to fish-spawn. t 

very rapidly from Ipswich Bay across in the direction of Cape Cod. The schools were 
at the surface of the water, and it is not an exaggeration to say that their speed was 
not less than three or fonr miles an hour. The schools of mackerel spread over many 
square miles, each hodv offish was separated from the otbers, perhaps many hundred 
fathoms, hut all seemed to he impelled hy the same motive and were moving steadily 
in the same direction. These fish would hite eagerly at the hook for a few minutes at 
a time, hut so strong was their instinct of migration that it was impossible to detain 
them longer than a few minutes at a time in their on w aid movement. 

J. W. COLLINS. 
* See chart hy Dr. G. 0. Sars, in his report for 1H74. 

t Fisheries of British North America, pp. 20, 21. It is difficult to see how the offal 
of mackerel could injure the spawn of the young fry of this fish since the eggs are 
known to swim at the surface of the sea, and it is presumable that the mackerel, 
when first hatched out, also keeps near the surface. Therefore in a depth of ten or 
twenty fathoms it seems extremely problematical that the welfare of either the eggs 
or young fish could be interfered with by the viscera thrown over from the fishing- 
vessels. Another thing: It is well known that the waters of the Bay of Saint 
Lawrence swarm with small and extremely voracious crust acea — "sea-fleas" — which 
rapidly devour anything of this kind which is thrown into the sea. Indeed, so active 
are these small scavengers that codfish caught on a trawl are often comi)letely de- 
voured by them iu three or four hours. Again, there can be no doubt but what throw- 
ing over the offal from the vessels is really beneficial to the mackerel, which feed ujion 
it. The recent diminution in the abundance of mackerel in the Bay of Saint Lawrence, 
and the remarkable increase of this fish on our own shores, since the New England 
fleet has ceased to visit the waters of the Gulf in such numbers as formerly, seems to 
prove conclusively that the decrease or increase iu the abundance of the mackerel is 
due to other causes than that of throwing over the offal which is taken trom those 
■which are caught. — J. W. Collins. 



[33] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

•'* The effect of temperature ou the local movements of the mackerel 
may be recognized in the process employed by tishermen to ' raise' mack- 
erel by toll-bait, and luring them seawards. The mackerel follow the 
bait for some distance from shore, where suddenly they cease to bite and 
disappear. They probably find long exposure to the warm temperature 
of the surface waters nnsuited to their habits, and sink to a cooler zone. 

" Hence the reason why a ' mackerel breeze,' mixing the heated surface 
water with the cooler understratum, is favorable to prolonged mackerel 
fishing with bait. The mixing produced by agitation cools the surface 
and permits the fish to feed for a lengthened period."* 

" The mackerel, like the herring and the cod, seeks cold water for its 
spawning grounds wherever the Labrador current exercises its influence. 
Between Block Island andlSToman's Land, where the spawning grounds 
on the United States coast south of Oape Ood are alleged to exist, a 
thin wedge of the Labrador current stretches far into Long Island 
Sound /'t 

"In Massachusetts Bay, where a mackerel spiawning ground also 
exists, 'as also in the vicinity of Stellwagen Banks; the temperature when 
observed by Dr. Packard in September ranged from 41 J to 45 degrees, 
and the fauna resembled the cold-water species on each side of Jeffrey's 
Ledge. On George's Shoals the marine life is said by Verrill to be the 
«ame as that found in the deeper muddy parts of the Gulf of Saint Law- 
rence, and indicates a temperature not above 40 degrees, and probably 
considerably lower. Bradelle Bank, according to Mr. Whiteaves, pre- 
sents the phenomenon of a small stony patch, tenanted by an assemblage 
of marine animals which usually inhabit very cold water, and are almost 
entirely surrounded by another series, which are for the most part prev- 
alent where the bottom is warmer and more affected by surface condi- 
tions of temperature.! 

" Wherever the areas are situated where young mackerel are found 
in the summer, we find near at hand a cold-water zone, either existing 
as a part of the Labrador current at the surface, or brought up from 
greater depths by banks and shoals. On the coast of Prince Edward 
Island, and in the gulf generally, the cold water lies frequently near the 
shore, because the diurnal tides mix the strata warmed during the day- 
time with the cold underlying strata. In the estuary of the Saint Law- 
rence Dr. Kelly found the surface temperature 57 degrees Fah. on the 

* It; is often the case that a school of mackerel may be kept alongside of the vessel 
for many hours at a time, even during the hottest days of summer, though generally 
at such times they will not bite very much. For this reason, therefore, the fishermen 
do not usually endeavor to keep the fish alongside of their vessels, but prefer instead 
to change their position and try to secure a new school of mackerel. This action oa 
the part of the fishermen, just referred to, may have led to the belief that their move- 
ments were caused by the disappearance of the fish from the vessels' side instead of 
on accomit of the disinclination of the mackerel to take the hook. — J. W. Collins, 

tHind, Fisheries of British North America. 

t Professor Verrill, page 48.5, Report of the United States Commissioner of Fish and 
Fisheries, 1871-'72. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [34] 

9tli July, but three feet below the surface it was 44 degrees, having in 
that short vertical space sunk 13 degrees ; at 24 feet it was 40 degrees^ 
or 17 degrees below the surface temperature. 

" The coastal waters of Massachusetts rapidly acquire an elevated 
temperature iu June, when the waters of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence 
are often still ice-cold. In April, May, and June the cod and haddock 
resort in large numbers to the banks and reefs off Stouington, Watch 
Hill, isTo Man's Land, and other similar places, but are quite unknown 
there later in the summer. 

" Local winds and tidal currents bring the waters of the Gulf Stream 
on to this coast and displace the cold waters, even at the distance of 
twenty or thirty miles from the shore in summer.* 

" In the Gulf of Saint Lawrence the temperature of the surface in 
summer rarely reaches, as far as observed, the temperature of the bot- 
tom of the sea off No Man's Land, or 59^ to 61^ degrees in 11 and 18 
fathoms respectively.t 

" Dr. Kelley records the following surface temperature in various parts 
of the gulf, and generally within view of the land : • 



Date. 



June 19, 
July 9, 
Aug. 10, 
Sept 2, 
June 28, 
Aug. 14, 
Aug. 15, 
Aug. 18, 
Aug. 28, 
Aug. 30, 
Aug. 31, 
Sept. 1, 
Oct. 10, 
Oct. 10, 
Oct 11, 
Oct 11, 
Oct 12, 
Oct 13, 
Oct 14, 



Position. 



1832 
1831 
1831 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1832 
1831 
1831 
1831 
1831- 
1831 



Off Point do Monts 

do 

Off Anticosti 

Mingan Harbor . .' 

Estuary of Saint Lawrence. 

OffKegashka 

In Kegashka Harbor 

do 

do 

do 

Off Mingan 

Mingan Harbor 

Near Cape Gasp6 

OffCapeGasp6 

Near Mount Louis 

7 miles off. 

Bay of Seven Islands 

do 

do 



Temperature 
of surface. 



45 
57 
54 
53 
48 
53 
48 
38 
5& 
52 
51 
39^ 
41 
43 
41 
47 
46 
4^ 
39^ 



" In the harbors of the gulf coast, and even at a considerable distance 
off the land, the temperature of the surface is greatly affected by winds. 
A warm dry wind off the land diminishes the temperature of the sur- 
face by evaporation. 

" Tidal currents have a powerful effect on the temperature of the sur- 
face over shoals near the shore, by bringing the cold water to the sur- 
fa;ce. On the 27th June, 1832, Dr. Kelley observed the temperature of 
the surface water over a shoal ledge which runs out a considerable dis- 
tance from Mingan Harbor to be only 33 degrees ; on the previous day 
the water in the estuary of the Saint Lawrence being 47 or 48 degrees. 

*Profe8sor Verrill, page 485, Report of the United States Commissioner of Fish and 
Fisheries, 1871-'72. 
t Verrill, op. cit,, page 484. 



[35] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

" 111 these differences of surface temperatures, and the causes which 
give rise to them, we discover the reason why the mackerel retire, as 
the summer advances, from the warm coastal waters of the United 
States out to sea, where they find a stratum of water of the requisite 
temperature for their free-swimming food.* In the Gulf of Saint Law- 
rence this requisite temperature is best attained where cold substratum 
waters are mixed with warmer coastal waters by the tidal waves, the 
food being atthe same time brought inshore by these currents as already 
described. Here it lingers, partly on account of a suitable temperature 
being attained, and partly because the efflux and reflux of the tides oc- 
casion a constant ciicular or elliptical movement of the water. Hence, 
while the oft"-shore waters on the coast of the United States alone pos- 
sess the requisite degree of coolness in summer for the mackerel food, 
the inshore waters of the gulf acquire the degree of warmth best suited 
to the habits of these free-swimming creatures, which continues until 
late in the fall. The question of inshore and off-shore mackerel fishing 
grounds thus becomes, in a great measure, reduced to the different con- 
ditions of marine climate which i:)revail where the Labrador current is 
the controlling agent, or where the Gulf Stream asserts its power and 
influence during the summer season." f 

9. — Hind on the causes of the alleged annual variations in 

THE number of MACKEREL OBSERVED. 

"It is well known that the spawn of the herring is deposited at the 
bottom; and owing to the glutinous secretion binding the eggs, one to 
the other, it adheres firmly to everything which may happen to touch 
it; and masses of eggs are found to be tightly glued together. But it 
has been conclusively established by Professor Sars that the mackerel 
spawn, like that of the cod, floats; and the spawn is developed at the 
surface of the sea, being drifted to and fro by currents and winds, and, 
wholly imlike the spawn of the herring, sculpin, smelt, caplin, &c., is 
at the mercy of the ever- varying currents of the ocean. 

"The taking of mackerel on banks and shoals, dropping their spawn/ 
must be accepted that the fish are ready to spawn at the place where 
they are then caught. The transparent floating spawn being very diffi- 
cult to recognize and indeed rarely to be seen, except looked for and 
caught in tow-nets at the surface of the water. 

* Mackerel are frequently abundant close in to the shores of New England ia mid- 
summer. As a matter of fact large catches of mackerel have been occasionally made 
in Penobscot Bay, lifteen miles or more inside of the outer headlands and islands. 
Bluehill Bay, also in Maine, is a famous resort for small and medium-sized mackerel 
in summer. It is also well known that the immediate vicinity of Monhegan Island 
is one of the best mackerel grounds on the New England coast during the months of 
July and August. — J. W. Collins. 

t Fisheries of British North America, pp. 42, 43. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [36] 

"But mackerel /Vy are foimd near the land, in detached sea areas, all 
the way from the shores of Massachusetts to the shores of northeast 
Newfoundland. 

"While the cod spawn on the North American coast during every 
month of the year wherever the temperature of the water is sufficiently 
low and ice does not interfere, and the herring spawn in like manner 
during spring and fall, when the bottom waters have acquired a certain 
temperature, the mackerel spawns, as a general rule, in the spring of 
the year, and large schools apiJear to be established where the Arctic 
current exercises its influence either as a distinct surface current, or 
where it is brought to the surface by banks or shoals, and thus secures 
the requisite coldness in the waters for the floating spawn. 

"The floating spawn may be drifted by winds or tides many miles 
from the place where it is shed; and the birthplace of the fish will be 
that portion of the sea area where the young fry first issue from the 
egg, but not the spawning ground of the mother fish. In ordinary 
seasons the swing of the tides, apart from local currents, brings back 
twice every day the drifting, surface matter, whatever it may be, near 
to the place from which it set out; but winds may greatly alter the 
course and distance to which floating ova would be drifted. Hence, 
except in the case of secluded bays like the Bay of Chaleurs, Pleasant 
Bay or Massachusetts Bay, the geographical position of mackerel fry 
is in a great measure dependent upon the winds which may have pre- 
vailed. A storm near the end of ]May or early in June on the coasts of 
the United States may drive floating spawn far out to sea, even into 
the heated waters of the Gulf Stream ; and it has yet to be shown that 
mackerel spawn could sur^dve the sudden and extreme change of tem- 
perature this would involve; or a continuance of southerly winds may 
drive the spawn on to the shore and destroy it. This Qccurs frequently 
with the spawn of those fish which are deposited near the shore, as in 
the case of the capelin and herring. The small size of the mackerel 
spawn would cause it to be unobserved, and it would be more dis- 
tributed than the spawn of the herring and the capelin. The United 
States Signal Service charts show the course of storms and winds dur- 
ing the spawning season, which would produce these results. 

"The relation of cod spawn to rain has been referred to elsewhere 
(Part I, page xii). Ecasoning from analogy, which in so many in- 
stances must be for the present our only guide, the effect of rain or of a 
rainy month on mackerel spawji would be equally prejudicial, by caus- 
ing it to sink below the surface and be removed from those conditions 
of light and oxygen which are essential to the development of the em- 
bryo. 

"On the other hand, the spawn might be driven in an easterly direc- 
tion, or in a westerly direction, and be hatched some miles oft" the coast 
in great abundance. These new schools might attain great magnitude 
in three or four years, being unobserved, and might so remain for sev- 



[37] HISTORY or THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

eral years, pursuing their circular feeding movements until noticed by 
tlie fisbermen. The same contiugencies occur in the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence, and similar distribution arising from winds or tides drifting 
the spawn far from the spot where it was shed, often lead to the estab- 
lishment of new schools of fish in different localities. 

"This feature in the natural history of the mackerel has already been 
noticed with regard to the Baj^ of Fundy schools. 

"The occurrence of mackerel in great abundance on the northeast 
coast of Newfoundland, and their subsequent disappearance, may be ex- 
plained in a similar manner, and may be attributed to unfavorable 
meteorological conditions, which w^ould drive the floating spawn on 
shore, or far out to sea. There are, however, other probable reasons 
for the observed annual variations in the schools, which will now be 
noticed. 

"In the foregoing paragraphs it is assumed that the fluctuations in 
the numbers of mackerel observed by fishermen correctly interpret a 
phenomenon which appears to be generally recognized. 

"But while it is right to receive the statement that very large fluct- 
uations in the numbers seen usually occur, it is wrong to infer that, be- 
cause the schools are not visible, proof is afforded that they do not 
exist. There are strong reasons for believing that during many seasons 
the schools escape the notice of fishermen on account of their finding 
their food in a lower and colder stratum of water, and more rarely com- 
ing to the surface than during other seasons. It will now be shown 
how a cold stratum is produced, and that, as a necessary result of the 
mode of its formation, it varies each year and during every month of 
the year in vertical position and thickness, and that it is constantly 
brought to or near the surface on banks and shoals within certain geo- 
graphical limits. . These variations in depth of suitable feeding zones 
throw light upon the alleged inconsistency of the appearance of the 
macjierel, and its selection of coastal waters in some sea-areas and 
off-shore waters in other areas, and variations in both during different 
seasons.''* 

10. — Observations of American fishermen on the movements 

OF the mackerel SCHOOLS. 

Since it is not practicable in this place to present a full account of the 
movements of the mackerel schools along the coast, it may be interest- 
ing to present the observations of a few reliable observers at different 
localities. 

Captain King Harding, of Swampscott, gave me a very full account 
of the movements of the mackerel in Massachusetts Bay. 

About the 20th of May the schools begin to draw around Cape Cod 
into the bay; the earliest date, in the memory of Captain Harding, is 

*Hind, Fisheries of British North America, pji. 22,23. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [38] 

the 11th of May. The schools continue swimming at the surface until 
about the middle of June, when they sink down into deep water. Now 
none can be taken in the seines. When they disappear they are full of 
spawn; when they again appear, in twelve or fifteen days, they are 
spawned. When any are accidentally hooked up or tolled up during 
the slack season they are sometimes seen to have partially spawned. 
When they come to the surface they form in schools and move to the 
eastward. These remarks apply to the large fish. Small fish may be 
schooling at the surface all the time. A pound mackerel in the spring 
is apt to have spawn in it. 

" When jigging was the ordinary method of catching mackerel," writes 
Captain Collins, " many thousands of barrels were taken each year dur- 
ing or just previous to the spawning season, when the ova was well de- 
veloped. It was not an uncommon occurrence for vessels to secure fares 
in the Bay of Saint Lawrence before the spawning season was over." 

Cajjt. IST. E. Atwood, of Provincetown, Mass., gives the following ac- 
count of the migrations and movements of mackerel : 

"The mackerel comes to us from the south. As they are with spawn 
nearly mature when they arrive in our bay they probably come into the 
South Channel, passing east of IsTantucket, then along the eastern shore 
of Cape Cod, then around the cape and on until they reach their spawn- 
ing ground in from 15 to 5 fathoms of water, in the southern part of 
Massachusetts Bay, where they deposit, as I have answered in another 
reply." ^ 

"Mackerel leave the coast in the same manner as they came in in the 
spring. The mackerel is a migratory species, coming on our coast in 
the spring, and when the water becomes cold leaving the inshore 
ground and going to their winter quarters. We have no way of know- 
ing where they are when away, but can only say they are at their winter 
home. The first that arrive are the largest; others come in later, but 
are smaller or rather a mixture of large and small fish. There are no 
equal intervals between the arrival of the -different schools. When the 
fish leave our shores they go gradually, and they are several weeks 
passing away from our coast. The mackerel never fails to come, but 
often varies in abundance in different years. This may be due to the 
fact that the bait has taken a different course. The first run of mack- 
erel is made up almost entirely of male fish, but the spawn of the/ew? 
females that accompany them is always very nearly matured when they 
reach our coast. "I have to-day (July 1, 1877) examined a quantity of 
mackerel brought in by a vessel, caught in another locality, and find 
they are about three-quarters males. Neither sex will take the hook 
when they first come in; they seem to have no inclination to bite until 
they have deposited their spawn; they then commence to feed, and in 
time become fat. The large spawning mackerel, after they have de- 
posited, pass on to the north. We do not see much of them until they 
return late in the autumn. When they pass by here going off' the coast 



[39] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

they do not take the hook, so we catch them in gill-nets. The second 
run of mackerel that comes in the early part of the season, which Dr. 
Mitchell, in his 'Fishes of 'New York,' calls Scomber grex, is the kind 
that takes the hook; they are, no doubt, the younger class of fish. This 
fish (mackerel) on its arrival swims low in the day-time; in the night it 
<5omes near the top of the water and is caught in gill-nets. We would 
not know they had arrived if no nets were set. The ebb and flow of 
the tide does not affect them. I have never seen spawn run from this 
fish when taken with the hook ; when spawning they do not bite in this 
locality. In fishing with gill-nets we see no spawn floating in the 
water. There are no pounds here. The mackerel does not run up from 
the sea into fresh water. We find no small young fish with the larger 
mackerel when they are spawning. Mackerel are liable to go anywhere 
when they are following the bait." 

In his testimony before the Halifax Commission the same eminent 
a,uthority stated: 

"The mackerel, like some other species of fish I could name, come in 
poor- and destitute of fat. being only number threes according to the 
Massachusetts inspection law; and when they reach Provincetown, 
those that have come in from the south have, I think, spawned at places 
at which, they have found about the right depth of water for the pur- 
pose. I have never fished south of Cape Cod, and hence could not 
vouch for that; but the fish that come in east of IsTantucket and South 
Ohanuel do not fall in with land or a shoal channel until they strike 
back of Cape Cod, and, winding round, come into the soutbern part of 
Massachusetts Bay. In that locality I have fished with gill-nets for a 
.great many seasons, at the time of their arrival, and they only last till 
the bluefish make their ajipearance. We have six or seven weeks of 
mackerel fishing, and generally do something considerable at it; but 
after the bluefish come in the mackerel leave, as that drives them all off 
.and ruins our fishery. 

"Question. When are mackerel in the finest condition off the coast 
of the United i^tates, say from Cape Cod down? — Answer. I should say, 
taking one year with another — years difler a little — say from the middle 
of September to the middle of October, I could get as nice mackerel as 
could be procured at any time during the year, and then good mackerel, 
.some years, can be obtained as early as the middle of August. 

"Q. Is it your opinion that some of the schools of mackerel found on 
the coast of the United States remain there during the entire season, 
or do they all go north of the coast of Maine?— A. I think that the 
mackerel which come south of us, and then strike into Cape Cod and 
Massachusetts Bay, and north of that, and some of them farther east- 
ward, come in from the deep water, where they have wintered, and 
.strike on and back of George's Bank. This is my opinion. I consider 
that they come from their winter quarters all along the coast, from away 
•down as far as Chincoteague Shoals to ISTewfoundland. I have no idea 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [40] 

that the mackerel which are on our coast in the region of Cape Cod and 
south of that, or anywhere near that, ever come down the coast here 
and pass Halifax. I bave never thought that they did so; hut then I 
cannot bring evidence to jjrove that they did. I never saw mackerel 
between Cape Sable and Cape Canso, though I have seen some at Louis- 
burg, on the south shore of Cape Breton Island, when I was there once. 
I never saw these mackerel, but I fully believe that mackerel do come 
in the spring northward by Halifax, and again pass this way in the fall. 
But then I think that after the mackerel which pass Halifax get to Cape 
Sable they i)ass off the coast. 

" Q. I wish you to state how late in the season you have successfully 
fished at the Magdalen Islands'? — A. I could not remember the date ex- 
actly; but I should think that we never staid at these islands later than 
about the first of October, though it may have been the 10th of that 
month ; but that is about the latest period. 

" Q. Have you found mackerel good in quantity at the Magdalens as^ 
late as the first of October ? — A. I think that is the case. I believe 
that it was October before we left these islands the first year I was there ;, 
and we caught mackerel just before we left them." 

Mr. A. B, Eich, of Provincetown, Mass., makes the following remark® 
concerning the migrations and movements of mackerel : 

'' Mackerel come along the coast from the south. When the water be- 
comes cold they strike off into the depths. It is quite likely that they 
spend the winter at the south, at points where the water is about as 
cold as along the Massachusetts coast in the summer time. They are 
first seen in June, and steadily increase until September, when the main 
body makes its appearance. The first run is the smallest. Their ap- 
pearance is regular and certain. In ISTovember these fish begin to leave, 
and withdraw by degrees. Both sexes come together and the spawn of 
the female seems to be mature when they first appear. Yery few mack- 
erel will take the hook at first, but do so after the spawning season is- 
over. Their arrival is known by their capture only, for they swim low. 
Yery little spawn runs out of the mackerel caught with a hook, but 
large quantities out of those captured in nets. Mackerel are not anad- 
romous. ^o small fish are seen on the breeding grounds. Mackerel 
seem to like deep water where the temperature is about 48° or 50°. 
About 20 fathoms is their usual depth." 

Mr. ISToah Mayo, of Boston, Mass., makes the following statements^ 
concerning the movements of mackerel : 

"Mackerel come on this coast from the south, making their first ap- 
pearance ofi" Cape Hatteras and along the coast to Long Island. So 
along the Massachusetts and Maine coasts as it grows later, going into 
the Bay of Fundj^ and into the Bay of Chaleur and Gulf of Saint Law- 
rence. All mackerel found in the Bay of Chaleur come from the Amer- 
ican waters. Most of them pass between George's Bank and Cape Cod 
on their journey from the south to their summer resort. They leave by 



[41] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

the same route they came. Mackerel spend their winters either in the 
Gulf Stream or south of it, none being seen or caught after they leave 
the coast of Massachusetts. Mackerel are first seen off Cape Hatteras 
and along by Cape May usually about the last of April. As a rule the 
head of the shoals are large and the smaller come right after. From 
April to July they continue to come at different times. They commence 
leaving about the 1st of November, and continue going in the same man- 
ner they had come, some earlier, some later, until into December, then 
they disappear. When they return in the spring they are very poor. 
Mackerel appear on the coast regular and certain; they never fail. In 
some years they are more abundant than in others. If the bait upon which 
they feed comes on the coast then they follow, and in proportion as the 
live bait is found so is the abundance of the mackerel. The sexes come 
together, and they spawn in about two to four weeks after they arrive. 
Mackerel take the hook at first as well as at any time, and both sexes 
are alike in this respect. Mackerel sometimes swim at the top of the 
water, but sometimes they cannot be seen. Birds are often attracted 
by them. The spawn often runs from these fish when taken by hookb,. 
and it is frequently seen floating in the seines. Mackerel are not anad- 
romous. Fish of all ages are found together on the breeding grounds. 
Mackerel are found in all sorts of water, deep and shallow, but they seem 
to prefer shallow water around the shore and on the off-shore shoals.. 
They like warm water better than cold." 

Mr. Josiah Snow, of Boston, Mass., makes the following report on the 
movements and migrations of mackerel: 

"Mackerel come on this coast from the south, first appearing off Cape 
Hatteras and then off Long Island Sound, so continuing along the coast. 
After passing Cape Cod they become fatter as the season advances. 
They pass along the coast of Maine into the Bay of Fundy, to the Bay 
of Chaleur and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. I do not think all the 
mackerel found in the Bay of Chaleur follow the American coast; part 
of them appear to come direct from the south, striking into Chaleur 
through the Gut of Canso. Mackerel leave the coast in about the same 
manner as they come, some passing off' southeasterly, some following 
the coast closely and going around Cape Cod. At this time, the season 
being so far advanced, with bad weather, vessels do not follow them. 
Though there are many conjectures on this point, it is my opinion that 
they (mackerel) spend their winter in the Gulf Stream, or at the south 
of it. It is certain that when they leave this coast in the fall they are 
fat, and are very poor when they return in the spring. They generally 
spawn on our coast. Mackerel are first seen in quantity about May 
1, and during May and June appear to be constantly coming. Per- 
haps a few arrived in April. As a rule the first to come are the larger 
ones, and the smaller soon after. They commence leaving the shore 
about November 1. aiul continue going through part of December. 
They always appear on this coast in summer. I think more come some 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [42J" 

years than others, because more live bait ufjon which they feed is found 
•on the coast some seasons. Runs differ, some being nearly all large, 
and some nearly all small. 1 know of no difference in the coming of 
sexes ; they usually spawn in about two to four weeks after they arrive. 
I know of no difference in the sex in taking hook ; as a general thing 
they take the hook freely when they first come. Mackerel swim both 
high and low. They are seen in large ' shoals,' or ' schools,' as sometimes 
•called, and at other times they remain under water so they cannot be 
seen without throwing bait to attract them. The fishermen on this 
coast now need to see the fish on the surface because they use seines 
altogether. Spawn does not run out of mackerel caught by hook, 
nor is it seen in quantity floating in the nets. These fish never go into 
fresh water. Toung and old come on the coast together. Mackerel 
prefer shallow water and shoals. The water must be quite warm to suit 
them." 

Capt. David IST. Mehlman, of Gloucester, Mass., gives the following 
account of the movements of mackerel : 

"Mackerel come from the southern coast and pass through the 
Southern Channel between George's Bank and Cape Cod. They travel 
eastward, and return by the same route toward the south. It is prob- 
able that mackerel spend the winter on the coast of Florida and in the 
Gulf of Mexico. They are seen about Gloucester first in spring in May, 
and their numbers continue to increase until the 1st of July. Those 
fish that come first are the largest of all in size. There is no regular 
interval between the appearance of different schools. About November 
they begin to leave this coast, and their departure is very gradual. 
The appearance of mackerel is rather uncertain. Some years they are • 
very abundant, while in others they are quite scarce. This may be in 
part due to the course they take in coming in, making their scarcity a 
matter of appearance and not a reality, and partly also to the change 
■of the feeding-ground. Some runs are composed of all large fish, and 
some of all small ones. Both sexes come together, and it is quite cer- 
tain that the spawn of the female is already matured when they first 
arrive on these shores. When the mackerel first come they are quite 
uncertain about taking the hook. However, after a short time both 
«exes take it readily. The mackerel schools swim high, and make their 
arrival known by their appearance at the surface. They always make 
a ripple, and not unfrequently attract birds. The spawn never runs out 
of these fish, whether caught by hook or in nets. Fish of all ages are 
found on the breeding-ground. Mackerel remain in places where the 
water may be very shallow or as much as 100 fathoms deep. They 
seem to prefer rather warm water." 

Mr. Moses Pettingell, of Newburyport, Mass., presents the following 
report on the movements of the mackerel : 

" In coming in to the shore the mackerel take a northwesterly course 
from the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras. The first are taken on the 



[43] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

edge of the Gulf Stream iu April. They usually depart by the same 
route. The fish of the first school are seen iu April, aud are larger than 
those of the main body which arrives iu June. The schools, which are 
many, are separated by intervals of nearly a hundred miles. The ap- 
pearance of mackerel is uncertain in point of time, but they never en- 
tirely fail. Mackerel will not take the hook at all times. They will 
scarcely take it at all for ten days or more after they first arrive. They 
usually swim near the surface, and attract birds, and make a ripple. 
In the si^riug months the spawn runs out of the fish caught with the 
hook, but the eggs are never seen floating in the nets. The mackerel 
is not an auadromous fish ; they seem to prefer shallow water and a 
sandy bottom." 

Mr. E. J. Nealley, of Bath, Me., states that "mackerel appear to fol- 
low the coast northerly in the spring, and to return by the same route. 
Mackerel are found on the coast of Maine, for the first time in the sea- 
son at any date from the 15th to the 20th of May, and seem to increase 
gradually in number until midsummer. The first school is of large size. 
Different schools leave at different times, but the main body appears to 
<ie])art early in October. Their appearance is regular and certain. 
They all take the hook most readily after the s|»awniDg season is over. 
They swim low at their first arrival, but afterward very frequently 
swim at the surface. The spawn is often seen -floating in the nets in 
considerable quantity. Mackerel are not auadromous. These fish 
seem to prefer a sandy or gravelly bottom in from C to 12 fathoms of 
water." 

Mr. Benjamin F. Hinckley, of Georgetown, Me., states that ''mack- 
erel come along the coast from the south and go toward the east ; they 
return by the same route. They spend the winter at the edge of the 
Gulf Stream. The first fish are seen about the middle of May, and the 
main body arrives about the middle of July. The first schools are lar- 
gest in size. The fish continue to come iu at intervals, and also leave at 
different times. Their appearance is certain. The female fish come first 
and appear to be ready to spawn. Neither sex will take the hook on first 
arriving, and this state of things continues for about a month after their 
arrival. The first schools swim low, but the later ones swim high and 
attract much attention. The tide has nothing to do with their move- 
ments. The spawn is often seen floating in the nets in large quantity. 
Mackerel are not auadromous. Young fish are not found among the 
spawning ones. After the spawning season is over the fish seem to 
have no preference in regard to depth of water." 

Mr. George B. Kenniston, of Boothbay, Me., makes the following 
statements in regard to the movements of the mackerel: 

"They come along the coast from the west, part remaining while 
others continue toward the east. They depart toward the west. About 
June 10 the first are seen, and after this some nre always to be found 
until their departure altogether. There are no regular intervals of 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [44] 

scarcity and abundance. They leave the shores about October 1st to 
the 10th, quite gradually. Their appearance is regular and certain. 
The small ones appear first, but they continue to improve during their 
stay. Their arrival is known by th eir capture and the rijiple on the water. 
Mackerel are not anadromous. Their favorite resorts are about rocks 
in shallow water." 

Mr. U. S. Treat, of Bastport, Me., makes the following report in re- 
gard to the movements of mackerel : 

"Mackerel come in from the west. Their presence is known by the 
ripple they make at or near the surface. They pass out toward the 
west, touching at the bays and harbors. They are last seen in the Gulf 
of Mexico late in the season. They first appear in April or May, and 
the main body arrives in August and September, The largest and fat- 
test are taken in Sei}tember and October. Several schools or 'runs^ 
come in at short intervals. They leave in October and November in 
a body. Their appearance is regular, although they sometimes fail 
to go as far north as at other times. Want of food is supijosed to be 
the cause of this thing. The first runs are of the average size, and 
are poor ; the later runs are of good size, and are fat. Both sexes come 
at the same time, and the spawn in the female is well matured. jSTeither 
will take the hook readily on first arriving. They swim high, but rarely 
attract birds. They leave the shores at ebb tide and return at flood 
tide. The spawn often runs out of the female when taken with the hook 
or caught in a net. The spawn is often seen floating in seines and weirs. 
The mackerel is not anadromous. Fish of all ages are found on the 
breeding grounds. These fish are found in both deep and shoal water, 
and on very different bottoms. The general average temperature of 
bays and the ocean seems to suit this fish quite well." 

Prof. H. Y. Hind thus discusses their movements in the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence : 

"The mackerel regularly appear at the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf 
of Saint Lawrence about one month after the first arrival of the herring. 
The time as far as observed during 1861 to 1866 inclusive, 1871 and 
1873 to 1876 inclusive, varied from the 30th May to the 12th June. 

"The following table shows the dates of the first appearance of the 
herring and the mackerel at Pleasant Bay during the years named. 
The authorities are to be found in the official reports of officers engaged 
in the protection of the fisheries, in Captain Fortin's reports, and in . 
other published documents relating to the Canadian fisheries in the 
annual sessional papers. 

"In Captain Fortin's report for 1853, herring are stated to have arrived 
about the Ist of May of that year, and the mackerel fishing to have been 
nearly finished on the 7th of June. 



[45] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



Table showing the period and the yearly differences in numher of days between the first ap- 
pearance of the herring and the mackerel at the Magdalen Islands, from 1857 to 1876. 



Tear. 



1857. 
1859. 
1860. 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 

1873. 
1874. 
1875 
1876. 



First appearance of 
the herring. 



Firat api^earance of 
the mackerel. 



May 7 i June 1 

April 29 , I 

April 28 Juno 1 

Mayl 

May 2 

May 17 

May 1 

April 27 

April 25 

May7 , 



Aprill5. 

Mays... 
Mays... 



April 27. 

May 2... 
May 6... 
May 9. .. 



June 4 . . 
Jnne 12 . 
June 6 . . 
May 30.. 
May 29.. 
Juno 2 . . 



May 31-. 
June 20 . 

June 5 . . 
June 7 . . 
June 8 . . 
June 6 . . 






32 



32 
25 
35 
32 
33 
26 



23 



Mackerel three weeks later thaa 
usual — much ice. 



"On the 31st May I went inside Amherst Harbor and boarded twelve 
vessels engaged in mackerel fishing." — (Eeport of Capt. L.H. LaOhance, 
commanding the marine police schooner Stella Maria. December, 1871, 
Sessional papers 1872, page 158.) 

The mackerel must have been in the vicinity of the Magdalens during 
the last week in May, in 1871, and fishermen were then taking mackerel 
simultaneously far south and far north, or in Martha's Vineyard, south 
of Cape Cod, in latitude 41° 20', and Amherst Harbor, Magdalen Islands, 
in latitude 47° 20', or six degrees of latitude apart. 

"It will be seen from the table that generally when the herring were 
early the mackerel were also early, and when the herring appeared late 
the mackerel also were late. 

"In 1872 the herring came in on the 3d of May, but owing to the 
prevalence of ice the mackerel were three weeks later than usual in- 
shore. With this exception the greatest difference between the re- 
corded times of the appearance of these fish inshore was thirty-one days, 
or about one month. 

"In all instances the large mackerel are generally full of spawn when 
they are first seen in the spring, and the young fry are observed a few 
weeks later in many parts of the gulf. 

" It will be observed that in the year 1871 the mackerel were first 
taken at the Magdalen Islands on the 31st of May, and in 1872 they 
were three weeks behind their usual time. A similar difference in point 
of time in the first appearance of this fish on the coast of Massachusetts 
occurred during those years. On that coast the following differences 
are recorded : 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [46] 

WAQUOIT, MASSACHUSETTS.* 

1871 April 25 

1872 May 10 

Difference in time-^15 days. 

MAGDALEN ISLANDS. 

1871 : May 31 

1872. . . . ; June 20 

Difference in time — 21 days. 

"At the Waquoit weir the earliest mackerel would probably be taken 
in 1871. At Amherst Harbor the mackerel vessels were actually engaged 
in fishing (see L. H. LaChance — Eeport of the marine police schooner 
Stella Maria, 1871), so that the fish must have been present in small 
numbers perhaps some days before the fishing began, and we may con- 
clude that the difference in time between the arrival of the schools at 
the two places in 1871 and 1872 was very nearly the same, and due 
solely to local variation in marine climate. 

'•According to resident Newfoundland fishermen, young mackerel 
have been seen in great numbers in the Bay of Notre Dame during the 
months of September and October, about three inches in length. 

"They appear on the coasts there generally about the 20th July, and 
during the period when mackerel were common on the northeast coast, 
Green Bay, at the extremity of the Bay of Notre Dame, was a noted 
place for swarms of mackerel fry." 

To this may be added the following statement from the report for 1871 
of the captain of the Canadian police schooner Water Lily : 

"These fish, as a general rule, are to be found close inshore during 
the month of June and part of July ; they then go off' into deep water, 
their favorite resorts being on the Orphan and Bradley Banks, and from 
Point Miscou to North Cape, Prince Edward Island. There are some 
always to be found inshore, but the best fish are in deep water. From 
the middle of August till the end of September they are to be found 
more off the Prince Edward Island ; that is to say, from North Cape to 
Bast Point, and in the bay formed by Cape George and Cape Jack, on 
the Nova Scotia shore. In October, at which time the mackerel are at 
their prime, they again strike inshore and are to be found in great num- 
bers on the Cape Breton coast from Cheticanto the Judique Shoals, but 
their position depends a great deal on the weather in the fall of the 
year, as heavy gales of wind drive them off into deep waters." 

In this connection I cannot refrain from quoting also an extract from 
a statement made to the United States House of Eepresentatives by 
Hon. Caleb Cushing, in 1836, which teaches us that the habits of the 
mackerel were very well understood nearly half a century ago, and were 
much the same as at the present day : 

" Kepon of U. S. Commiesioner of Fisli and Fisheries, 1871-72. 



[47] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



<'The season for the first appearance of mackerel on those parts of 
our coasts where they are usnally taken is from the 20th April to the 1st 
of May, according as the season is more or less forward ; at which time 
they strike on the shore soundings off the capes of the Chesapeake and 
Delaware. Between the latter place and Egg Harbors they are usually 
plentiful for 15 or 20 days within a few leagues of the land, and mack- 
erel vessels, which are on the ground seasonably, meet in general with 
good success, if the weather prove to be favorable ; after which the 
mackerel move to the northeast, scattering over a large space of ground, 
from near the shore to the soundings inside the Gulf Stream, and ex- 
tending down the coast off Long Island and Block Island to l!J"antuckety 
which theyVeach early in June. Sometimes they collect more in bodies 
off Long or Block Islands, and are i^lentiful for a few days, after which 
they proceed north through the South Channel and between the Vine- 
yard Islands into Massachusetts Bay. They reach that bay from the 20th 
of June to the 1st of July and continue there until late in jSTovember. 
******* 

"It occasionally happens that late in the year fishermen will reap a 
rich harvest, when the whole previous season had been comparatively 
unproductive. Thus it was in the autumn of 1831, in October of that 
year, the mackerel struck in very near to Cape Ann. Large fleets of 
vessels collected in such close order as to be continually coming in con- 
tact. The sea being smooth, and great quantities of the bait thrown 
out, the fish gathered in vast numbers, and some vessels took nearly one 
hundred barrels in a single day. At the same time they were very 
abundant off Cape Cod and on Jeffrie's Ledge ; and it was computed 
more than 70,000 barrels were taken in a single week." 

TABLE SHOWING COASTWISE MOVEMENTS OF THE MACKEREL. 

The following table, compiled in 1877, chiefly from the records of the 
United States Fish Commission, may be of interest, since it shows in a 
general way the dates of appearance, greatest abundance, disappear- 
ance, and spawning at several points along the coast. 

MACKEKEL. 

Dates of appearance, greatest abundance, departure, and spawning, principally from records 
of the United States Fish Commia8i<yn. 



Locality. 



Appearance. 



Greatest 
abundance. 



Departore. 



Spawning. 



Cape Hatteraa 

Capes of Delaware. . 
Bamegat and Sandy 

Hook. 
Easthainpton, N. T . 

Providence, R. I 

Nanshon 

"Wood's Holl, Mass . . 
Waquoit,1871 



April 15-20. 
May 1 



May 8-12 . 
May 15-30 



Jnly, Novem- 
ber. 
June 



April 



May to Sep- 
tember. 

May2 , 

May 9 1 

Apiolig I May 19 



Antumn . 



September 15, 
November. 



October. 



In bays in spring. 

June, on soundings. 

Spawn runs abundantly. May 2, 
Spawn mnsabondantly, May 10. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [48] 

Mackerel. — Dates of ap;pearance, greatest ahundance, departure, <^-c. — Continued. 



Locality. 



Nantucket. 



Chatham 
Harwich . 



Dennis 

Provincetown 



WelMeet ....- 

Boston 

Ifewburyport . 



•Georgetown, Me 

Boothbay, Me 

Seguin Island, Me . . . 

EastpoTt, Me 

■Southern ITova Scotia 



May 1-25. 

May 1-30. 
June 



Greatest 
abundance. 



June 

May 15-20. 



June.. 
May* . 
April 



May 20 

September and 
October. 



May 

June 10. 

May 

April and May 
Mayt 



October, No- 
vember. 

September and 
October. 

July, Septem- 
ber. 

June, Septem- 
ber 20 to Oc- 
tober 10. 

July 15, Sep- 
tember. 

July 1, Sep- 
tember. 

July, Septem- 
ber. 

August and 
September. 



Departure. 



October 20, ISTo 
vember 20. 



TS'ovember 

November 

November and 

December. 
November 

November and 
December. 

October and 
November. 

September 

October 1-10 . . 

October and 
November. 

October, No- 
vember. ' 



Spawning. 



May and June, on shores. 

May. 

June, spawn seen in nets. 

Do. 
Do. 



May and June, spawn seen in 
nets. 

Do. f 



Do. 

Before July 1. 
Spawn seen in weirs. 



"At Gloucester, May 13, 1881. 



tBarrington, N. S., May 14, 1881. 



II.— THE MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE UNITED 

STATES. 

C— THE PUESB-SEIITE FISHERY. 

The iDurse-seine has come into general use since 1850, and with its in- 
troduction the methods of the mackerel fishery have been totally revo- 
lutionized. The most extensive changes, however, have taken place 
since 1870, for it is only during the last ten years that the use of the 
purse-seine has been at all universal. As late as 1873 and 1874 a few 
vessels have fished with the old apparatus in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 
and also a few on the coast of New England. Such changes in the 
manner of fishing for mackerel have brought about also a change in the 
fishing grounds. Vessels fishing in the old style were most successful 
in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, but the purse- seine can be used to very 
much better advantage along our own shores between Cape Hatteras 
and the Bay of Fundy. 

The mackerel fleet in 1879 and 1880 is owned almost entirely by Mas- 
sachusetts and Maine, a very few vessels from New Hampshire and 
Connecticut also participating. The distribution of the vessels in the 
mackerel fleet, their tonnage, and the number of men employed, is shown 
in the tables, prepared by Mr. E. Edward Earll and printed below in 
sections 40-43. 

11. — The fishing- grounds. 

In the spring, from March to the 1st of June, the mackerel seiners 
cruise between the capes of the Chesapeake and the South Shoal of Kan- 



[49] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

tucket. The mackerel are first encountered off Chesapeake and Dela- 
ware Bays, from 20 to 50 miles from the land, and gradually move north- 
ward, followed by the fleet. When off the coasts of New Jersey, Long- 
Island, and Block Island, the fish nsnally draw closer in to the land, 
frequently approaching within one or two miles of the shore. During 
the summer and fall months the principal seining ground for mackerel is 
in the Gulf of Maine, from the Bay of Fundy to Cape Cod ; the imme- 
diate vicinity of Mount Desert Rock, Matinicus Eock, Monhegan Island, 
Cape Elizabeth, Boon Island, and Massachusetts Bay being favorite 
localities. Good catches of mackerel are frequently made in summer on 
George's Bank and, within the i ast few years, near Block Island. 
Though mackerel have, at times, been taken in seines in the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence, so little, comparatively, has been done in this locality that it 
can scarcely be classed among the grounds generally resorted to by the 
mackerel seiners. In a large majority of cases the mackerel schooners 
which have gone to the gulf within the last four or five years have met 
with decided failures, and in 1880 several returned liome from there 
without a single barrel of fish. 

12. — The fishermen. 

The mackerel fleet contains a larger percentage of American-born 
fisjiermen than any other. The 113 mackerel vessels from Gloucester 
are manned by 1,438 men, of whom 821 are Americans ; 322 Provincials; 
24 British, most of whom are Irish; 39 Scandinavians; 6 French; and 
13 Portuguese. The mackerelmen belonging to other ports in Massa- 
chusetts and on the coast of Maine have a still larger percentage oi 
Americans in their crews, most of the vessels being manned entirely by 
natives of New England. Many of the Gloucester fishermen, engaged 
in the mackerel fishery, are, in winter, employed in the haddock fishery, 
in the Georges cod fishery, or in the fresh halibut fishery. Many others, 
like those from Provincetown and Maine, do not go to sea in winter. 
The winter herring trade is carried on almost entirely by the mackerel 
schooners and their crews from Gloucester and Maine, and the winter 
oyster business is, in the same manner, monopolized by the Cape Cod 
and Portland mackerel vessels, while some of them enter into the busi- 
ness of bringing fruit from the West Indies to the United States. 

13. — The vessels. 

The mackerel fleet is made ni> of 468 vessels, which pursue this fish- 
ery to a greater or less extent. Of these, 235 vessels are employed ex- 
clusively in catching mackerel between March and November, though 
some of the fleet do not start before June or July. A large number of 
these, the best fishing vessels of New England, in winter are engaged in 
the haddock fishery, in the Georges fishery, in the herring trade, in the 
oyster trade, and in the W^est India fruit trade, as well as in the shore 
cod fishery. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [60] 

There is a small fleet of vessels wliicli, though, like their companions, 
designed for rapid sailing, are seldom employed iu the winter, except m 
the herring trade to New Brunswick, on account of the shallowness and 
sharpness of their hulls, which renders them unfit to encounter the 
heavy winter gales iu the open ocean. 

The mackerel vessels are, as a class, swift sailers ; they carry, while 
engaged in this fishery, all the canvas which their rig will allo^'. The 
manner in which their sails are managed, and the amount of canvas 
which thej'^ carry, are fully described in the chapter on the fishing 
vessels. The mackerel schooners, as a rule, spread more sail, iu com- 
parison with their size, than any other vessels in the world, except, per- 
haps, the extreme type of schooner rigged yacht, which is esseniially 
a development of the fishing schooner. 

Vessels designed especially lor the work of seining mackerel usually 
have a wide deck, much deck-room being necessary for the proi;)er 
handling of the fish. Many of the schooners of 60 to 80 tons have a 
beam of 21^ feet to 22J feet. But, although plenty of deck-room is 
considered of great importance to a mackerel vessel, even deck-room 
is held to be less necessary than speed. In consequence every effort 
has been made by the builders to construct swift sailing schooners, and 
the result is that many of the vessels comj)osing the mackerel fleet are 
quite able to cope successfully with first-class yachts of the same size. 
The mackerel vessel is fitted for seining; (1) by placing upon her a 
summer outfit of repairs and sails;* (2) by removing the heavy cables 
used in winter fishing, and substituting chain cables. This change is 
not necessary in the case of many of the Cape Cod and Portland vessels 
which are employed in the oyster trade, or in the case of most of the Glou- 
cester vessels engaged in the herring trade, since these use only chain 
cables at any season ; (3) by the removal of gurry-pens, and all other in- 
cumbrances from the deck ; (4) by the rigging of a seine-roller upon the 
port- quarter rail. This is a wooden roller of oak or other hard wood, 6 
to 7 inches in diameter, and 6 to 8 feet long, which revolves on pivots 
in its ends, received into iron sockets in cleats, which are fastened to the 
rail. The forward end of the roller is about 3 feet aft of the main rigging. 



* Whatever repairs are needed are first atteuded to, ■while, in the meantime, the 
jibboom is rigged out, the foretopmast (if the vessel carries one) is sent np, the spars 
cleaned and painted, and the rigging tarred. This having been done, the vessel is 
taken on the railway and thoronghly cleaned and painted. The work of cleaning 
and painting spars, tarring rigging, &c., was formerly done I'y the vessel's crew, but 
at the present. time it is done by gangs of shoresmen organized for the purjiose, the 
expense for the labor performed being paid for .by the fishermen. The custom of 
hiring others to do this work began about 1863 or 1864. The fisheries were at that 
time very prosperous, and many of the fishermen preferred to pay some one for tarring 
and such work rather than to do it themselves. At first two or three men of the crew 
usually did tbe work, being paid for it by their shipmates, but in a short time it 
passed into the hands of the longshoresmen to the general satisfaction of both owners 
and crews. The work of cleaning the vessel's bottom, preparatory to painting it, is 
now often done by shoresmen, who are paid by the crew. 



[51] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

The use of this roller is to lessen the friction between the rail of the vessel 
and the seine, as the latter is being hauled on deck or overhauled into the 
boat ;* (5) by the head-box being fastened to the forward end of the house. 
The head-l)Ox is a bin 10 or 12 feet long, and wide enough to receive the 
head of a fish barrel. In this box are stowed the heads of the barrels 
that happen to be on deck ; (G) by placing the bait-mill on deck, and 
fastening the bait box (when one is used) to the main rigging on the 
starboard side; (7) by nailing boards to the top timbers underneath 
the main rail, between the fore and main riggijig. These are about (J 
inches in width, and are provided with single ropes, or stoppers, 2 or 3 
feet apart ; the object of these stoppers is to hold the cork rope of the 
seiue when brought over the rail, preparatory to bailing the fish from the 
seine upon the deck; (8) by taking on board an ice-grinder, these 
being used^ only on vessels which carry their fish fresh to market ; (9) 
by clearing the hold of all bulkheads, ice-houses, or other appliances 
which may have been used in the course of the mnter's fishery ; (10) by 
properly adjusting the quantity of ballast ; if the vessel has been in the 
haddock or Georges fishery, ballast must be removed ; if in the herring 
trade, ballast must be added ; a mackerel schooner of 60 tons will carrj^ 
from 15 to 20 tons of ballast, and in exceptional cases somewhat more ; 
(11) by an arrangement of ice-house on those vessels which intend to 
take their fish fresh to market, somewhat similar to that on board the 
halibut fishermen ;t (12) and by taking on board the necessary supply 

* Capt. George Merchant, jr., of Gloucester, Mass., states that pnrse-seiues were used. 
l)y the fishermen of that i>ort for six or seven years before ' ' seine-rollers " were put on 
the vessel's rails. This useful implement was first invented and used by Capt. Simeon 
Tarr, of Gloucester, aboutthe year 1857, whilehe was in command of thepinkie "Andes." 

tThe mackerel schooner's ice-house, as a rule, occuj)ies the middle jiortion of the 
hold, extending from side to side of the vessel one way, and from the grub beam to 
the forward side of the main hatch the other way. It is separated from the other sec- 
tions of the hold by bulkheads, and is divided into a number of pens similar to those 
in the ice-house of a halibut schooner. Each of these pens is subdivided into three 
parts by shelves, which are coiistracted, when occasion requires, by laying some 
boards crosswise, the ends resting on cleats which are nailed to the sides of the pens. 
The first shelf is put in about fifteen inches above the floor of the ice-house, and a 
second shelf fifteen inches above the first. The front of the pens are closed by boards 
which slide in grooves on the stanchions, or bulkheads. The mackerel are iced fifteen 
inches deep on the floor of the pen, after which the first shelf is laid and another tier 
of the same depth is put on that. After the second shelf is i)ut in the fish are iced on 
it nearly to the deck, a covering of ice being put over all. In this way the fish can 
be kept in a better condition than if they were packed in a large bulk. If stowed in 
bulk the fish are jammed and soon become worthless. An average sized ice-house 
has a capacity of about 200 barrels of fresh mackerel ; some ice-houses will hold 300 
barrels. 

Capt. Joseph Smith, of Gloucester, tells us that at present few of the mackerel ves- 
sels carry ice-grinders, since the fishermen prefer to use the ice-pick instead. Each 
vessel employed in market fishing is provided with from 2 to 4 ice-picks, and three 
men can pick up ice fast enough to supply a whole crew, even if they should ice 100 
barrels or more an hour, which is about the average speed with which mackerel are 
taken care of. Captain Smith thinks his crew, on one occasion, iced 300 barrels in an 
hour and a half. About 4 tons of ice are put on 100 barrels of fresh mackerel. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [52] 

of barrels.* Vessels which take their fish fresh to market carry from 175 
to 250 barrels ; those intending to salt their fish carry from 175 to 500 
barrels, about one-third of this number being filled with salt, which is 
used in curing the fish, and serves in the meantime as ballast. 

Wellfleet has a three-masted schooner, the " Carrie D. Allen," em- 
ployed in the mackerel fishery ; her burthen is 175 tons, and she carries 
25 men.t 

14. — Appae,atus and method of fishing. 

{a) The seine-hoat and its fittings. — The boats used by the Gloucester 
fleet in the purse-seine fishery are built after a peculiar model and solely 
for this purpose. The present form of the seine-boat was devised about 
the year 1857 by Messrs. Higgins & Gilford, boat-builders, Gloucester, 
Mass.| The seines had previously been set from square- sterned, lap- 
streak boats, about 28 feet in length, and resembling in shape an ordi- 
nary ship's yawl. 

The seine-boat, as now in use, resembles the well-known whale-boat, 
difl'ering from it, however, in some important particulars. 

The seine-boat, according to Mr. Gifibrd, must have three qualities : 
(1) It should tow well ; consequently it is made sharpest forward. A 
whale-boat, on the other hand, is sharpest aft, to facilitate backing 
after the whale has been struck. (2) It should row well, and this qual- 

* Vessels which carry a mackerel pocket or "sjiiller" are provided with outriggers 
on the starboard side and other necessary arrangements for its proper management. 
All of the seiners also have an outrigger on the jjort side, by the fore rigging, to fasten 
the seine-boat to. 

tThe three-masted schooner " Carrie D. Allen," of Wellfleet, Capt. Darius Newcomb, 
arrived at Gloucester, June 18, 1874, with 900 barrels of mackerel. Only vessel of her 
class in the coast fisheries; 175 tons, carries 25 men. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 26, 
1874.) 

tCapt. George Merchant, jr., of Gloucester, Mass., claims to have been the first to 
design and introduce the form of seine-boat now universally employed in the mackerel 
fishery, and which has been used to some extent in the menhaden fishery since 1857. 

In 1856, while engaged in fishing for menhaden, he carried two boats, one of which 
was a whale-boat of the ordinary type. The latter, which he used for a "second boat," 
proved very serviceable — rowing and towing easily, and turning quickly — and was 
much better adapted for seining than the old-fashioned square-sterned seine-boats 
which were in general use at that time. Captain Merchant therefore conceived the 
idea that a decided improvement could be made in seine-boats bj^ building them on 
the same general plan as the whale-boat, through making them somewhat wider than 
the latter, especially towards the stern, so that they would be better able to bear up 
the seine. Having decided on the dimensions required. Captain Merchant wrote to 
Mr. Higgins (now the senior partner of the celebraled boat-building firm of Higgins 
& Gilford, Gloucester, Mass.), who was then at Provincetown, desiring the latter to 
build a boat 21 feet long and according to the plan submitted, and which should be 
ready for the season of 1857. 

Many of the old fishermen laughed at the idea of attempting to use a sharp-sterncd 
boat for purse-seining, declaring that it would upset while the seine was being " pursed 
up," that it would tow under, and making other unfavorable predictions. Notwith- 
standing their croakings, they soon became convinced of the good qualities of the new 
boat, and in the following years hastened to adopt the same kind themselves. 



[53] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHEEY. 

ity also is obtained by tlie sharp bow ; the whale-boat also should row 
well, but in this case it has been found desirable to sacrifice speed in 
part to the additional safety attained by having the stern sharper than 
the bow. (3) It should be stiff' or steady in the water, since the oper- 
ation of shooting the seine necessitates much moving about in the boat. 

The Gloucester seine-boat of the present day is a modification of the 
old-fashioned whale-boat, combining the qualities mentioned above. 
The average length of such a boat is about 34 feet, its width 7 feet 5 
inches, its depth amidship 33 inches. At the stern is a i^latform, meas- 
uring about 4 feet, fore and aft, on which the captain stands to steer ; 
this is 6 to 8 inches below the gunwale. Another platform extends the 
whole length of the boat's bottom, from the afterpart of which the seine 
is set. In the bow is still another platform, on which stands the man 
who hauls the cork-line. There are four thwarts or seats, a large space 
being left clear behind the middle of the boat for the storage of the 
seines. Upon the starboard side of the boat, near the middle, is ar- 
ranged an upright iron sui)port, about 18 inches in height, to which are 
attached two iron snatch-blocks used in working the purse-ropes.* 
Upon the opposite side of the boat, generally near the bow and stern, 
but with position varied according to the fancies of the fishermen, are 
fixed in the gunwale two staples, to which are attached other snatch- 
blocks used to secure additional purchase upon the ])urse-ropes. In 
the center of the platform at the stern of the boat is placed a large 
wooden pumj), used to draw out the water which accumulates in large 
quantities during the hauling of the seine. The steering rowlocks, 
with the peculiar attachment for the tow-rope and the metallic fixtures 
described above, are manufactured especially for seine-boats by Messrs. 
Wilcox & Crittenden, Middletown, Conn. 

Until 1872 the seine-boats were always built in the lap-streak style ; 
since that time an improved form of smooth-bottomed boats, built with 
battened seam, set- work, sheathed inside with pine, and with oak frame 
and pine platform, has been growing in popularity. The advantages 
claimed for this boat by the builders are: (1) increased speed; (2) 
greater durability, on account of the more solid character of the wood- 
Avork and tighter seams; and, (3) less liability to catch the twine of the 
nets by reason of the smooth sides. It is not so stiff as a lap streaked 
boat of same width, but in other respects superior. 

Since the general adoption of the purse-seine, in the menhaden and 
mackerel fisheries, an account of which is given elsewhere, there has 

* The lirst iron purse-davit (with wooden suatch-blocks), according to Cajitain 
Merchant, was invented and used by Capt. Henry Blatchf'ord, in 1858. With the 
exception of the blocks, it was essentially the same as the purse-davit in use at the 
present time. Previous to this a wooden davit (usually an old one), such as were in 
use on the fishing-vessels, was employed for the j)urpose of pursing up the seine. 
These davits were rigged out over the side of the boat, a place being cut in them 
three or four inches deep, so that they might fit over the gunwale of the boat in such 
a manner as to steady the outer end while the inner end was secured to the midship 
thwart by a grommet strap. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. '[54] 

been a gradual increase from year to year in the size of tbe seine-boats, 
keeping pace with a corresponding increase in the size of the seines. 

In 1857 all boats were 28 feet in length. In 1872 the length had in- 
creased to 30 feet, and in the summer and fall of the same year an 
additional foot was added to the length. In 1873 almost all boats 
which were built had a length of 31 feet, a few of 32 and 33. In 1874 
almost all were 33 feet, as they were during 1875 and 1876, although 
some were made 35 and 36 feet. In 1877 31 feet is the most popular 
length, though one or two 38-foot boats have been built. Seven, eight, 
or nine oars, usually 13 or 14 feet in length, are used in these boats, 
besides a steering-oar of 16 or 17. 

These boats last, with ordinary usage, six or seven years. Afc the 
close of the fishing season they are always taken ashore and laid up for 
the winter in a shed or under trees, and are completely refitted at the 
beginning of another season. 

The seine boats carried by the "menhaden catchers" south of Cape 
Cod and by all the steamers are shaped like ships' yawls, square-sterned, 
smooth-bottomed, and batten-seamed, 22 to 26 feet long and 6J feet 
beam. They are built at New Bedford, ISTew London, Greenport, and 
at Mystic Eiver, and cost about $125 each, the finest 1 185. The JSTew 
Bedford boats are preferred by many fishermen. 

The Cape Ann fishermen stow their seines in one boat, and in shoot- 
ing the seine one end of it is carried in a dory.* 

The arrangement of the thwarts are especially adapted for the mack- 
erel fishery. There is some variation, however, as to the number of 
these in the different sizes of boats. In the size most commonly in use 
at the present time (1881) there are six thwarts, five of these being for- 
ward of midships, and one 7f feet farther aft. The following are the 
general dimensions of the boat: 36 feet long over all; 7 feet 7 inches 
Avide; 2 feet 8 inches deep. The bow thwart is placed 4 feet from the 
stem, and there is a space of 2J feet between each of the five forward 
thwarts. The boat is ceiled to the gunwales and platformed inside. 
In the bow she has a- raised platform which comes up to the level, or 
nearly so, of the forward thwart, to which it extends, and is bulk- 
headed on the after end. The stern is covered over on the top of the 
gunwales, forming the stern sheets, this being 3 feet long forward of 
the stern-post, with a bulkhead on the forward side. Forward of this 
again, and a little below the level of the thwarts, is another platform, 3 
feet in length, also bulkheaded on the forward side ; on this the seine- 
master stands while steering the boat, and in it is placed the pump by 
which the boat is freed from water. The after portion of the boat be- 
tween the two after thwarts is used for stowing the seine, this being a 
section 7| feet long by 74 feet wide. There are five rowlocks on either 
side, corresponding to each of the five thwarts. The purse-davit is 
placed on the starboard side and usually stepped in the midship thwart 
*Goode, History of the American Menhaden, p. 122. 



[55] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

near the gunwale. At present, however, an improvement has been 
made in placing the purse-davit by stepping it in the thwart nearer 
to the center of the boat, it being placed at a distance of 18 inches 
to 2 feet from the gunwale. It is said that by this improvement the 
seine can be more easily pursed up and the pursings taken over the 
gunwale of the boat without the use of a pry or lever, and also that 
there is less probability of the boat being capsized. Tlie boats of the 
most recent construction have their purse-blocks on the port side, 
nearer the bow and stern than formerly, the forward being 2 feet aft of 
the stem, and the after one close to the upper stern sheet, about 3^ feet 
from the stern-post. Galvanized iron plates, each provided with a pro- 
jecting eye, are neatly fastened to the gunwale, and the snatch-blocks 
are hooked into these eyes. 

Until recently it^ has been customary to build these boats with a raised 
garboard, in imitation of the whale-boat (whale-boats are constructed in 
this way by some builders), but within the present year, during 1881, 
Messrs. Higgins & Giffbrd, before mentioned, and the principal if not the 
only constructors of this style of boat in the United States, have built 
them with smooth garboards, Athich have given better satisfaction than 
the old style. They are remarkably well adapted for swift rowing and for 
towing. Both of these qualities are very desirable, especially the latter, 
since they are frequently towed at a rate of 10 or 12 knots. The thwarts 
are double-kneed but not dunnaged. The boat is steered with an oar 
similar to the whale-boat. On the port side are two oar rests in which 
the oars are placed after the seine has been shot. The after one of 
these is Just forward of amidships, and the two are separated 8 feet. 

The seine-boat is usuallj^ towed astern by a warp, a 2^ or 3-inch rope, 
20 to 50 fathoms in length. When the Aessel is making a long passage 
the seine-boat is hoisted upon the deck. Some of the larger vessels 
carry two seine-boats and two seines. In the largest schooners these 
boats are both of a Lirge size ; in other vessels, one of them is usually a 
small one. In addition to the seine-boats, each vessel carries two dories. 
One of these is usually towed astern when the vessel is on the fishing 
grounds; sou^etimes both. They are taken on deck in rough weather, 
when making a passage, or when not required for use in fishing.* When 

*The following is the price-list of Messrs. Hlggins & Gifford, of Gloucester, Mass., 
for 1880 : 

Seinc-'boafs, ivcludi'ng pump, iron hrcast IiogJc, outside ioxc iron, and iron stem cap. 

Smoolli bottom, battened seam, 31 feet $186 00 

Smooth bottom, battened seam, 32 feet 192 00 

Smooth bottom, battened seam, 33 feet 200 00 

Smooth bottom, battened seam, 34 feet 210 00 

Smooth bottom, battened seam, 36 feet 225 00 

Galvanized rowlocks, with biass sockets, per set (8) 6 50 

Pnrsing gear 8 50 

Patent steering rowlock with socket 1 25 

Pursing blocks, per ])air 6 00 

Towing iron and ^in 2 00 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [56] 

a large catcli is obtained at the last set of a seine for the trij), and more 
mackerel are secured than the barrels on board will hold, the dories are 
taken on deck and filled with fish. During the mackerel season it is a 
common occurrence to see, in any of the large fishing ports, vessels ar- 
rive with both dories piled full of mackerel. 

(&) The seine. — Two kinds of seines are used. The large seine, only 
used in connection with the largest kind of seine-boat, is 190 to 225 
fathoms in length, and 20 to 25 fathoms in depth when it is hung, being 
deeper in the center of the bunt than at the extreme wings, one of which, 
the "boat end," is from one to ten fathoms deep, and the other, the 
" dory end," varies from about seven to fifteen fathoms in depth.* It is 
made of three kinds of twine. The " bailing-piece," which is a section 
of the net occupying about 10 to 12 fathoms along the center of the 
cork-line, and having about the same depth as length, is made of the 
stoutest twine. Beneath this, and composing the remainder of the bunt 
and extending to the bottom of the seine, is a section knit of twine a 
size smaller. There is also a band of large twine, 15 meshes in depth, 
extending aloag the cork-line of the seine on either side of the bailing- 
piece to the extremity of each wing. The remainder of the net is made 
of smaller twine. 

A seine 200 fathoms in length is usually about 1,000 meshes deep, 
both in the bunt and in the wings. The strongest twine is placed at 
those places where the seine is subjected to the greatest strain. On the 
cork-line are two or three sizes of corks, the largest being placed over 
the bailing-piece, the smallest generally at the ends of the wings. The 
cork in the middle of the seine is much larger than the rest, and is painted 
or covered with canvas in order that it may be easy to find the center of 
the net either night or day. To one end of the cork -line at the upper cor- 
ner of the wing, which is first tlirown out when the seine is set, is a buoy. 
The seine is hung to lines which are called the hanging-lines. The lead- 
line is placed as in an ordinary seine, and is weighted with sinkers 
about two ounces in weight, which are attached to it at intervals varying 
from a few inches to several feet. The arrangement of the pursing rings 
and bridle is described elsewhere. In a mackerel seine of 175 fathoms the 
bridles are about 15 to 18 feet in length, and the rings, which weigh 1^ 
pounds and are 3 inches in diameter, are fastened to the middle of each 
bridle. The middle ring is on the bottom of the seine, opposite the mid- 
dle cork already referred to.f The i^urse-line extends through the rings ; 

* Capt. Joseph Smith tells us that the depth of the seine-euds varies a great deal 
according to the fancy of the fishermen. Some of the skippers prefer to have the ends 
of their seines "taken np" enough to make them very shallow, while others think .a 
net with deep ends will fish the best. 

tThe middle ring is usually made of different metal from the others, or is largei-, so 
that the center of the bottom of the seine can be easily found. 



[57] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHEEY. 



its center is marked by a line tied aroiind it or tucked through its strands, 
but more frequently now by a brass swivel, into which the purse-rope is 
spliced, and which serves the double purpose of marking the center of 
the line and preventing it from kinking.* 

When the vessel is not searching for fish the seine is stowed on a 
grating forward of the house, between that and the after hatch. This 
grating is a frame- work, about 8 to 10 feet square, made of boards from 
4 to 6 inches in width, crossing each other at right angles. The board- 
ing is supported on a frame-work of joists. The top of the grating is 
4 to G inches above the surface of the deck. When two seines are car- 
ried, the grating must be wider. When the seine is stowed in the boat 
or ui)on the deck, it is always "salted down" to prevent it from rotting 
or burning. From a bushel of salt to a barrel or more is used, accord- 
ing to the necessity of the case. When the seine is thus stowed, it is 
often protected by a canvas cover. 

* The following dimensions of an average-sized deep-water mackerel purse-seine liave 
been supplied by Capt. George Merchant, jr., of Gloucester, Mass. ; 

Total length of seine when hung, 203 fathoms. 

Depth, 1,000 meshes, or about 21 fathoms. 

Size of mesh in all its jiarts, 2 inches. 

Length of "bailing-piece" or "bunt," 500 meshes; size of twine, 12-9. 

Depth of "bunt" or " bailing-piece," 500 meshes. 

Length of " sides," each, 300 meshes; size of twine, 20-9. 

Depth of " sides," each 500 meshes. ^ 

Length of " under," 1,100 meshes; size of twine, 20-9. 

Dei)th of "under," 500 meshes. 

The central section of the mackerel pnrse-seine, that portion composed of the bail- 
ing-piece, sides, and under, is generally spoken of as the " bunt," though the bunt 
proper constitutes only a small portion of it. Capt. Joseph Smith, of Gloucester, says 
that at present the whole center of the seine (including the bunt, sides, and under) is 
made of one size of twine, 20-12, this j)ortion being 1,000 meshes square. 

There is sometimes considerable difference in the length of the wing and arm of one 
end of the seine from that of the other, though some are constructed with both ends of 
equal length. Many of the seiners prefer to have the bunt of their seines a little to 
one side of the middle of the net. In such cases the ends are, of course, of unequal 
lengths. It may also be mentioned that a border of stout twine (size 20-9), 15 meshes 
deep, extends along both the top and bottom of the wings and arms of each end of 
the net. 

Size of first wing, 125 yards long in the web, 1,000 meshes deep ; size of twine, with 
the exception of that for the border, 16-6, hawser-laid; size of first arm on the same 
end of the net as the wing just described, 125 yards long in the web, 1,000 meshes 
deep ; size of twine, exclusive of that in the border, 20-6, hawser-laid. Size of wing 
No. 2, on the other end of the net, 150 yards long in the web ; depth, 1,000 meshes; 
twine, 16-6, hawser-iaid. Size of arm No. 2, 150 yards long in the web ; depth, 1,000 
meshes ; size of twine, 20-6, hawser-laid, exclusive of the border. 

Captain Merchant writes: "We always use for hangings 6-thread manila right and 
lefc rope. In Boston factories they sometimes use 9-thread manila for bridle-rope, or 
'loops,' as they are occasionally called." These loo^js, to which the purse-rings are 
attached at the bottom of the seine, are one part of the hanging-rope, and are made 
three fathoms long, the spaces between them being the same distance. Thus it will 
be seen that the purse-rings are about 6 fathoms distant from each other. Cai)tain 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [58] 

When looking out for mackerel the seines are generally stowed in the 
seine-boats upon the i)latform arranged for that purpose between the two 
after thwarts. The cork-lines are stowed aft and the lead-lines forward, 
the seine always being set from the starboard side of the boat. 

As has been stated, the small seine differs from the large seine only in 
its size, being from 150 to 175 fathoms in length and 10 to 12 fathoms in 
depth. These seines are used in shallow water, and those vessels which 
have gone to the (iulf of Saint Lawrence for the purj^ose of catching 
mackerel by this method have generally carried them. 

Many of the large schooners carry two seines whether they have two 
seine-boats or not, since the deep seine cannot be used on rocky bottom, 
in shallow water. 

The seine is always jjassed from the boat to the vessel and vice versa 
over the roller upon the port side, which has already been described. 
To transfer the seine from the vessel to the boat requires five or more 
men. The operation can be performed in from fifteen to thirty minutes. 
To haul the wet seine from the boat to the vessel is a somewhat labori- 
ous task, but as less care is required than in stowing it in the boat, less 
time is usually needed to perform this operation. 

(c) Bait. — Mackerel seiners usually carry a small supply of bait for 
the purpose of tolling the fish to the surface and, incidentally, of catch- 
ing fish with the jigs when they are not schooling. Sometimes they toll 
the school along side and spread the seine around the vessel, and as 
she drifts over the cork-rope and away to leeward the net is pursed up 

Merchant adds : " Wo use the left-laid rope for loops and the right for the sinkers. 
The loops are formed by sei^aratiug the ropes at what are called the ' bridle hitches.' 
Only one ring is attached to a loop." The net has attached to it, when completed, 
800 No. 1 corks, 1,200 No. 2 corks. The No. 1 corks, which are the largest, are placed 
in pairs in the center of the bunt of the seine, a" a distance of 10 inches between the 
j)airs. The "middle cork," however, is made of three, joined together aud covered 
with canvas. This is for the purpose of determining the center of the seine when it 
is being overhauled. The No. 2 corks are secured to the upper i^art of the seine upon 
the wings and arms, being placed 15 inches apart. From G5 to 75 i)ounds of lead sink- 
ers, which weigh from 2-} to 4 ounces each, are placed at the bottom of the seine. 
Noue of these are put in the bunt, but are scattered along Ihe foot of the wings and 
arms, being nearest together close to the ends of the net. The rings used at present 
are made of galvanized 1-inch iron, and weigh about 2^ pounds each ; with the sinker- 
leads they make about 100 pounds weight attached to the bottom of the seine. One 
and three-fourth inch hemp rope is used for the purse-line, the length of this being 
generally about 25 fathoms more than that of the seine. In hanging the seine it is 
'•taken up" at the ends, so that one end is 7 fathoms deep while the other is only 1 
fathom deep, though the middle of the net will go down 125 feet. The first or deep- 
est end is called the " dory end " or " outer end," aud the other is knov>'n as the " boat 
end" or "inner end." As will readily be understood by reference to the preceding 
dimensions of the purse-seine, the difference in the depth of the several sections of 
the net, when hung, is due solely to the " taking up " iu the process of hnnging it, 
since the webbing is of the same depth throughout. The purse-seines, like many 
other things, are being improved. Those we are making now [for the mackerel fish- 
ery] are much lighter than we have been making them in former years, and can be 
handled with greater ease and rapidity. 



[59] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

aud the fish captured. It is often the case, too, when mackerel are 
moving rapidly for the men in the dory to throw bait ahead of the 
school, and while the fish are thus induced to stop, the seiue-boat circles 
around them, the net is thrown out, and while yet engaged in feeding 
the fish are inclosed in the big purse. Manj^ good catches are obtained 
in this way. The favorite bait is slivered and salted menhaden, of 
which each vessel usually carries five to ten barrels. Many if not all of 
the vessels, however, at the present time, depend entirely ui)on small 
mackerel, which they catch and salt. Tlie bait-mill, bait-boxes, and 
bait-throwers are similar to those used in the mackerel hook fishery, and 
are used in the same manner. 

(d) Methods of seining hy day. — The following description of the method 
of seining mackerel is mainly from the pen of Mr. J. P. Gordy: When 
a vessel is on the fishing grounds and there are no signs of fish, if the 
weather is favorable, a man is stationed at the mast-head on the look- 
out, while the rest of the crew, excepting, of course, the man at the 
wheel, lounge lazily around, amusing themselves as they feel inclined. 
If a whale is seen blowing or a vessel is "putting out her boat," the 
man at the wheel steers toward them. The skipper is usually on deck 
directing the evolutions of the vessel, and is consulted before any change 
is made in the course of the vessel. When signs of fish begin to be numer- 
ous and sea geese and gannets are plenty, and whales and porpoises 
show themselves frequently, the "fishy men" of the crew stop lounging 
and begin to survey the surface of the water intently. At such times 
one can count half a dozen here and there in the rigging, carefully observ- 
ing the movements of other vessels, if any of the fleet are in sight. 
"There's crooked actions, men," the skipper exclaims, meaning that some 
vessel in sight suddenly alters her course, and that she is either on fish 
herself or sees another v^essel that is. When one school appears, another 
is likely to be seen, and when a vessel has "crooked actions," those who 
observe them bend their course in the direction in which she is sailing. 
When a man sees fish, he shouts, " I see a school." "Where?" asks 
the captain. The direction is indicated. "How does it look; is it a 
good one?" He wants to know whether they are tinkers or whether 
the fish seem large. If they are abundant, he will wait until he gets a 
"sight" at a good school. Much attention is paid by the lookouts to 
the manner in which the school of fish is moving. The seiners prefer 
those schools which are "cart wheeling,"* or going round and round in 
circles in a compact body, in the act of feeding. Fish which are "cart- 
wheeling" can be surrounded with a seine much more readily than those 
going straight ahead in one direction. 

If the man who has found the school is not experienced, the captain 
examines it for himself, and if satisfied that it is a good one he shouts, 
"Get in the seine boat; look alive, boys." As a pack of school-boys 

* This habit of circling, which the mackerel performs, is also called " milling" by the 
fishermen. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [60] 

jump from an apple tree when tlie indignant owner appears, so eleven 
men leap into the seine-boat one over another, as if they had meant to 
jumj) overboard but by accident had reached the seine-boat instead. 
The captain takes his place at the steering-oar. Two men sit on the 
forward part of the seine and one at the cork-line, ready to " throw out 
the twine" when the captain gives the word of command. The remaining 
seven row swiftly and silently until the fish disappear or the captain 
orders them to "stop rowing." All the while the captain is eagerly 
watching the fish, noticing Avliich way they move and how fast. He 
wants, before beginning to put out his twine, to get near enough to en- 
able him to make the wings of the seine meet around the school. He 
must, therefore, keep far enough away to prevent the head of the school 
from striking the seine until it is nearly x)ursed up. He calculates the 
speed of the fish, and sets the seine in such a manner that by the time 
the school gets thoroughly within the circle of the net he will be able to 
come round to the starting point and completely encircle them. If he 
fails in this, the wings of the seine must be towed together before it can 
be pursed up, and in the time thus occupied there is a chance of losing 
the fish. A skillful skipper rarely fails in making the ends of the seine 
meet. In seining on George's, or any other place where there is a strong 
tide, it requires much skill and judgment to set the seine in such a manner 
that it shall not be tripped and thrown out upon the surface of the wa- 
ter. Under these circumstances, to prevent " tripping," the seine should 
be so set that the bunt of it will be in the direction from which the tide 
runs; the force of the tide then aiding the act of pursing the net. 

When the skipper is near enough to satisfy the conditions of the 
above problems he orders the men at the seine to "Put out the twine." 
They begin their work, the oarsmen in the mean time rowing as fast as 
possible. The skipper steers the boat around the school in such a man- 
ner that when the seine is fully out the cork-line approximates more or 
less closely to the form of a circle. Two of the men who did not get in 
the seine-boat now ai^pear on the scene of action in the dory in which 
they have closely followed in the wake of the seine-boat until the act of 
setting begins. As soon as the first end of the seine has been thrown 
overboard they row up to it and seize the buoy at the end of the cork- 
line, which they hold until the seine-boat has made a circle, merely rowing 
fast enough to keep the end of the seine in its place and to prevent it 
from swagging. When the seine-boat has completed its circle, it ap- 
proaches the dory, which is holding fast to the buoy. When the two 
ends of the seine meet, the men in the dory get into the seine-boat to 
assist in pursing; sometimes, however, the ends do not meet, and in this 
case they are brought together by means of a line, about 20 fathoms in 
length, which is always taken in the dory and is fastened by the men 
in the dory to the buoy and carried to the seine-boat.* 

* Capt. Nelson A. Kenney, of Gloucester, states that two men usually go in a (lory, 
one of whom pulls a little while the other holds to the end of the seine. If the one 



[61] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

The work of "pursing up" is now to be performed with all possible 
speed. Until this is begun the seine is in the form of a hollow cylinder, 
and the fish, in order to escape, have only to dive down and swim away 
under the lead-line. In pursing, the bottom of the seine is to be closed 
up, and in this operation the saying of the men, "A man who won't pull 
every pound he can and an ounce more, is not fit to be a fisherman," is 
fully exemplified. 

The men stand six in one end of the seine-boat and seven in the other 
end, holding the two ends of the purse-line, which, having passed through 
the rings in the bridles on the lead-line of the seine, pass round the two 
blocks of the purse-davit and through the snatch-blocks on the oijposite 
side of the seine-boat, one of which is forward and the other aft. One 
of the uses of the bridles now appears. As soon as the men in the 
seine-boat commence iDursing up the seine the rings, which before this 
have been hanging downward below the lead-line, now extend the same 
distance laterally from this line. We have only to remember that they 
all extend toward each other to see that they considerably diminish 
the open area at the bottom of the seine. To be sure, the spaces between 
the bridles are open, but the fish are not likely to escape through these, 
for in such an attempt many of them would strike the bridles and find- 
ing such obstacles would turn, hoping to find an outlet in some other 
direction. 

The men stand, as has been said, when pursing up the seine, six in one 
end of the boat and seven in the other. They are divided into three rows 
of three and one of four men. On the side of the boat next to the seine 
are two rows of men facing each other and pulling ; one row on the end 
of the first line that passes over the blocks in the purse-davit nearest 
theai, the other on the other end of the purse-line i^assing over the other 
block of the davit. Each end of the i)urse-line i^asses around another 
block, which changes the direction of the line, and two rows of men on 
the side of the boat away from the seine stand back to back, pulling on 
the purse-line, its direction having been changed by the pulleys. 

As previously remarked, the seine before being pursed up is in the 
shape of a hollow cylinder. A strong tide may make it take the form of 
a hollow frustrum with a slit in the side. Its longer area is at the bottom. 
In such a case the slit is wider at the bottom and grows narrower toward 
the top, until it vanishes at a point where the two ends of the purse line 
bring the seine together at the purse-davit. Then the purse- weight 
comes into play. This is ''reeved out" to the two end lines, and its 
weight brings the iwo ends of the seine together, closing up the slit and 



having tlie oars is an expert (and as a rule only old hands do the rowing), he will 
quickly and dexterously turn the dory as the seine-boat approaches " close to," so 
that the latter may shoot alongside of the former in such a manner that the purse-line 
held by the man in the stern of the dory may be easily transferred to the larger boat. 
As soon as this is done both of the dorymen jump aboard the seine-boat and assist in 
"pur.siugup" the seine. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [62] 

destroying tlie frustrum shape of the seine. If this were uot done the 
fish might escape at the side as well as at the bottom.* 

When the seine is pursed up it is in the form of a bag, the bottom of 
which does uot hang freely, for it is bent upward, having been drawn up 
by the purse-line near the side of the boat and during the operation of 
pursing up the boat is pulled nearly into the center of the circle made 
by the corks on the upper edge of the seine. Occasionally, when there 
is a current, the boat is brought uj) against the corks in the bunt of the 
seine. The object is now to get the fish, if they have any, into such close 
quarters that they may be taken on deck. To this end the larger j)art 
of the seine must be iiulled into the seine-boat, and this operation, called 
"drying up," now begins. The seine is taken up entirely if there be 
no fish, partly if the school has uot escaped, and the net is so drawn 
up that the "bailing-i)iece" will inclose the fish at last. The position of 
this part of the seine being marked by the central cork, already spoken 
of in the description of the seine, it is of course not difiicult to bring it 
around the fish. The experienced fishermen can also quickly tell, either 
night or day, when the bunt of the seine is reached in the process of dry- 
ing up, since the difference in the size of the twine of which the bailing- 
piece is made and that of the other parts of the net is readily detected. 

If any fish have been caught, especially if the school is large, the 
dory, with the skipper and three or four men, go to the vessel to help 
the cook, who is the only man on board, to bring her alongside of the 
seine-boat. If the school is very large the dory is rowed to the vessel 

* It should be stated that the large purse-weight is at present seldom used. The 
tide is raroly so strong as to make it useful, and even then the process of "reeving" is 
likely to be so tedious as to make the loss of time more than balance the gain through 
its use. According to Capt. Joseph Smith the majority of the mackerel seiners now 
use two purse-weights, each of 75 or 100 pounds weight, instead of the old-fashioned 
" Long Tom," which usually exceeded oOO pounds. The tw.o weights above mentioned, 
being so mucdi lighter than those formerly employed, can be handled by one man, and 
rove on the purse-line very much quicker than if the heavier, or "double weight," as 
it is called, was used. These small purse-weights are provided with one block, and 
each weight has a line attached of sufficient length to reach the bottom of the seine. 
The time occupied in reeving them on the purse-line rarely exceeds fifteen or twenty 
seconds. One of the purse-weights is most commonly used on the "boat end," or the 
end of the seine last thrown out, for the reason that this part of the net has not usu- 
ally time to sink down to its full extent before the pursing begins. A weight is more 
rarely used on the end of the seine which is first thrown out, and, consequently, has 
had time to sink to its extreme depth ; though sometimes, on account of the current, 
or for some other reason, it may be found necessary to put the purse- weight upon this 
end, as well as upon the other. In using one large weight, as formerly, it Avonld be 
necessary, of course, to always put it on both ends of the purse-line of the seine, but 
in having two weights one can be attached and run down on either end of the purse- 
line as required. That sinks it and keeps the net deep, and if both ends "purse high " 
a weight should be put on each end. The ends of the purse-line, when the weights 
have been run down, in the manner above stated, will stand out from each other, 
something in the form of the letter A, both parts coming nearly together at the purse- 
davit and being separated several fathoms ait the lower part of the net, as the first 
purse-rings are attached about 15 fathoms from the ends of the seine. 



[63] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

as rapidly as possible, and the second dory is rowed back to tbe seine 
for the purpose of holding up the bunt, since a school of 500 barrels may 
sink both seine and seine-boat if left without assistance. This, however, 
rarely occurs, and it generally happens that the school either is small 
enough to be dipped into the dory and to be taken to the vessel, or that 
the seine-boat without any assistance is capable of managing them until 
the vessel is brought alongside. 

While the fish are being caught the cook has charge of the vessel; if 
it happens to be about meal time he attends to the cooking as best he 
can, but whether the cakes burn or not the vessel must be cared for, 
and he generally divides his time between the forecastle and the wheel. 
If he is preparing dinner, and is able to, he continues his cooking, taking 
charge of the vessel at the same time. 

The vessel usually lays to, with the jib to windward, not far from the 
seine boat; and, perhaps, as the cook sits at the wheel he has a basin 
of potatoes before him, which he peels while he is eagerly watching 
every movement of the seine-boat, trying to ascertain whether his mates 
are successful, and, if so, to what degree. 

When the dory has been rowed aboard, the men at once take meas- 
ures to bring the vessel alongside of the seine-boat. The evolution of 
shooting alongside of a seine-boat calls into play all the skill of the 
steersman. The vessel must approach so near that a rope maj'^ be 
thrown to the men in the seine-boat, and in such a manner that she will 
move slowly enough not to tear the seine as it is pulled along, before 
the schooner is "bowsed to the windward" and her motion ceases. 

The cork-line is then taken over the side of the vessel and made fast 
by "stoppers" along the rail. This having been done the process of dry- 
ing up is resumed and the fish are gathered together in a compact body 
so that they can be dipped out upon the deck. When the fish are to 
be taken on deck the men are distributed as follows : three or four are 
employed in hoisting the fish by means of a large dip-net attached to the 
main and fore staysail halliards, the captain directs the movements of 
the net, holding its long handle, and, shouting "hoist" when it is about 
half fu]l of fish, two men standing by the rail empty the dip-net on the 
deck. 

When all the fish have been bailed out the seine is overhauled and 
salted. In the mean time most of the crew are making preparations to 
dress the fish. If the school is large, the crew, cook and all, unless it is 
just at meal time, begin the work as soon as the fish are read^' ; if the 
catch of fish is small, and there is a prospect of getting another set that 
day, a part of the crew take the seine out of the seine-boat to mend it, if 
necessary, and lay it back in an orderly form so that it may be thrown 
out without difficulty. 

The operation of setting a seine around the school and pursing it uj) 
usually occupies from ten to twelve minutes, though it is claimed by 
some expert fishermen that they have done it in seven minutes. Under 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [64] 

unfavorable circumstances it may be nearly an hour from the time the 
first end is thrown out until the "pursings" are on the boat. This de- 
lay is usually caused by a strong tide, such as is generally found on 
Georges. The catch of a purse-seine may vary from, one barrel to five 
or six hundred barrels. The seine may be set eight or ten times in the 
course of a day without getting any considerable quantity, or, perhaps, 
no fish, the mackerel escaping by diving under the "lead-line"; and then 
a more fortunate set will secure more fish than can by any possibility be 
taken care of by the crew of the vessel. Under such circumstances it is 
customary to set a flag from the main-tojjmast head or main peak. This 
is to indicate to vessels which may be in sight that more fish have 
been caught than can be taken care of, and that the skipper is willing 
to dispose of some of them. This is called "giving the seine away." 
Sometimes the fish are given away to be dressed on shares, and at other 
times they are given away without expectation of return.* An ordi- 
nary crew caa dress and salt at one time about 100 barrels of small 
mackerel or 200 barrels of large ones.t 

Almost incredible quantities of fish can be taken care of in a short 
time. Vessels have been known to leave New York on one day and 
return the next day with 200 to 300 barrels of fresh mackerel, while 
some Gloucester vessels in the course of a week have caught and salted 
500 or 600 barrels, landing two or three cargoes during that time. 

It sometimes haiDpens that when a large school of mackerel have been 
taken in a seine, that the fish press down so hard on the bottom of the 
net that the fishermen find it difficult, if not impossible, to gather in 
on the twine sufficiently to "dry the fish up" enough to bring them to 
the surface. It has been found, however, that by throwing coal ashes 
into the water along s^de of the seine the fish are caused to rise to the 
surface, being frightened by the whitish appearance which the ashes 
give to the sea. When the mackerel rise the twine can be readily 
drawn in. The same result is secured in another way by the menhaden 

*The schooner Oliver Cromwell, while on a mackerel cruise recently, had a curious 
incident befall her. Her seine being out, a school of mackerel suddenly turned, and, 
making lor the seine, took it down. A vessel in the neighborhood immediately 
answered a call for assistance, and swept her seine under that of the Oliver Cromwell. 
Twenty -three hundred dollars' worth of mackerel were secured, the two vessels divid- 
ing the catch, the fish selling on an average at nine cents each. The bunt of the 
seine belonging to the Oliver Cromwell was badly rent by the sudden rush of the fish, 
or more would have been secured. This is the second time the seine of the Oliver 
Cromwell has experienced similar treatment, losing all the fish at the first, on account 
of the seine giving way and there being no help near. — (New Bedford Mercury, 187.5 (?). ) 

t A much larger quantity could be taken care of were it not for the fact that mack- 
erel, after being kept a certain length of time, grow ''soft," and rapidly become unfit 
for food. This change takes place much sooner when the weather is warm than at 
other times. The fishermen, however, are generally able to tell pretty accurately how 
many iish can be dressed and salted before they spoil. When good catches are made 
for several days in succession the fishermen get no sleep, being constantly employed 
night and day in taking and curing the fish. 



[65] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

fishermen when they have a large school of menhaden in their seine 
alongside of the steamer. If the fish hang heavy on the twine one or 
two quick turns is given with the propeller and the frightened menha- 
den rise quickly to the surftice. This method is called " whirling 'em 
up." 

(e.) MetJiods of seining hy night. — The practice of fishing for mackerel, 
purse-seining in the nighttime, which has recently come into quite 
general use, was first attempted, so far as we can learn, in 1877. The 
honor of introducing this method of fishing is assigned to a number of 
the more enterprising captains of the mackerel schooners, and, in con- 
sequence, it is ditficult to say here who should receive the credit for the 
innovation. As is well known to all who are familiar with the sea, the 
water, on dark nights, frequently exhibits a remarkably brilliant phos- 
phorescent display. At such times objects moving in the sea can be 
distinctly traced by the illumination which they leave behind, and 
schools of fish rising near the surface can be readily seen. Indeed on 
some occasions so remarkable is the phosphorescence thrown out from 
a large school of fish that it frequently seems to light up the surrounding 
darkness. From this reason, and the fact that the fisherman, by long 
experience and close observation, can accurately determine the kind of 
fish which he may see sporting at night, he is thus often enabled to 
learn the whereabouts of certain species, such for instance, as the mack- 
erel, and their abundance, even when they do not come to the surface 
during the day. The mackerel is a remarkably capricious fish, and i)er- 
haps for many days in succession its presence can not be detected in its 
favorite haunts while daylight lasts, and the fisherman therefore seeks 
for it in vain, but as soon as the sun sets and darkness appears over the 
sea the schools rise to the surface and the fish continue to disport them- 
selves in this manner until near daylight when they again sink out of 
sight. 

For many years after the introduction of purse-seines it was con- 
sidered impracticalile by the fishermen to catch mackerel in the night, 
but at last some of the more adventurous skippers, having a favorable 
opportunity for night fishing, and deeming it possible to catch the 
mackerel, made an attempt and met with even better success than they 
dared to anticipate. Thereafter they followed up this method of fishing 
whenever a good chance occurred, but as it usually resulted greatly to 
their personal success, as well as increased their reputation among their 
fellow fishermen, on account of the additional amount of fish cauglil, 
they were by no means anxious to tell that part of their catch w^as made 
in the night, since if they did so, all the other mackerel fishermen would 
at once come directly into competition with them. As a matter of 
course, however, the fact of mackerel being seined at night could not 
long be kept a secret, and the result was that one after another began 
to adopt this practice until in the fall of 1881 it reached its climax, 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [G6'] 

nearly every vessel in tlie fleet engaging to a greater or less extent in 
night fishing.* 

Previous to this time the public at large were not, it seems, aware that 
such large quantities of mackerel were taken in the night, though it was 
on record that night fishing had been previously attempted, and with 
good results.t 

The method of seining mackerel in the night is as follows : The vessel 
being on the fishing-ground, if the night is favorable, she is allowed to 
sail slowly ahead while a man goes aloft to the foremast-head and keeps 
a lookout for the fish. If the signs are peculiarly favorable, perhaps 
two or more men may be aloft for this purpose. These lookouts are 
the men who have the watch on deck, and, not infrequently, the skipper 
may be one of them, his ambition to succeed often impelling him to re- 
main up during the entire night, constantly keeping on the alert for fish 
and watching the movements of surrounding vessels. The remainder of 
the crew — those having a watch below — are thoroughly prepared and 
dressed in their oil-clothes ready to jumj) into the seine-boat at a mo- 
ment's warning. If the fish are not seen in the first of the night, the 
men off' duty lie down on the cabin or forecastle floors or stretch them- 
selves on the lockers, and endeavor in this way to get what sleep they 
can, unless, indeed, they may be busy on deck in caring for the fish taken 
the night or day previous. When a school of fish is seen by the look- 
out, he at once shouts "I see a school!" If it is the skipper who first 
descries them, he gives directions to the man at the wheel how to steer 
in order to approach them. If not, the man who first reports the school 

*Mr. A. Howard Clark, writing under date of October 28, 1881, says: '^ During the 
past few weeks the mackerel fleet have taken some good hauls during the night, as 
the fish have been difficult to catch hy daylight but have rarely failed to show them- 
selves on dark nights. When the moon shines it is impossible to see them, but when 
the night is dark or starlight they can be plainly seen from the mast-head, and some- 
times from the vessel's deck. Heretofore, in night fishing, the methods have been the 
same as by day, but recently, owing to the difficulty of seeing thi', fish from the deck 
or the boat, the lookout at the foremast-head has given directions to the men while 
setting the seine. In this method the seino-boat is towed astern of the vessel, and 
when ready to 'give 'em twine,' the dory is allowed to drift astern with one end of 
the seine while it is being thrown out from the seine-boat. When ready to go around 
the school, the order is given from the mast-head, to 'go ahead'; the seine-boat is 
cast loose irom the vessel and the seine brought together in the usnal manner. Still 
another improvement in the methods is likely soon to be adopted in this night seining, 
and that is in the use of large lanterns to show their position to the men while sotting 
for them. The schooner 'Northern Eagle' tried this new method last Tuesday night 
and found it to woi-k splendidly. It was probably the first attempt to use lanterns 
for such a purpose. Two schools of mackerel were secured, one at ten o'clock and 
the other at midnight, both together yielding 160 ba/'rels. The lantern was the ordi- 
nary large signal light used by fishing vessels." 

t We hear of one vessel with a catch of 100 barrels in one week, and of several with 
catches ranging from 30 to 60 barrels. Another vessel made a good haul in a seine, 
oneriinoonlight night recently, a new feature in this fishery. ^(Cape Ann Advertiser, 
0,:t9berl9,.1877.) 



[67] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

is asked in wliicli direction it bears from the vessel. He also directs 
how the course shall be laid in order to aijproach close to the body of 
fish. In the mean time the men below, having- been hurriedly awakened, 
rush on deck and quickly take their places in the seine-boat and dory 
which are towed alongside or astern. If the mackerel "show uj)" well 
and can be plainly seen by the men in the boat, the latter is cast off as 
soon as the vessel approaches close to the school, and the seine is set 
and pursed up in the same manner as has before been described; 
though it frequently happens that owing to the darkness of the night, 
it is sometimes difficult to bring the ends of the net together with such 
a degree of certainty and success as it is generally done in the daytime. 
Of late, however, the custom of carrying a light in the dory has been 
adopted in order that the skipper, who steers the boat, can determine 
the position of the end of the seine tirst put out and therefore be ena- 
bled to make a circle with a great deal more accuracy than he otherwise 
could. It often happens that fish can only be seen by the man at the 
mast head, and in such cases, the vessel is usually hove to near the 
mackerel, and the lookout directs the men in the boat how to row in 
order to surround the school. Another method, we are told, has been 
occasionally adopted when the chance for its success is promising. If 
the wind is sufficiently moderate the lookout at the foremast-head may 
direct the course of the vessel in such a manner that nearly a complete cir- 
cle may be made round the school of fish. In this case the seine-boat 
remaius fastened to the stern and is towed along by the vessel while 
the men in her throw out the seine in obedience to the order given by 
the man at the mast-head. At the proper time she is cast oft' and pro- 
ceeds to close up the circle by bringing together the ends of the seine. 
The dory is cast off and allowed to remain at the end of the seine as 
usual nutil the other end is brought around to her. An evolution of 
this Kind, of course, requires the most skillful seamanshli) for its success, 
and also remarkable qualities of adaptability in the vessel.* 

* Night fishing, says Capt. Joseph Smith, cun only be carried on in reasonably mod- 
erate weather. The boat is usnally towed alongside of the vessel, the painter being 
fastened to the out-rigger. When a school is seen, the men jump into the boat, each 
taking his station, and at the proper time the boat is cast oif and proceeds to set the seine 
if the fish "show up" in a promising manner. Sometimes, however, the school of 
mackerel may sink suddenly after the boat leaves the vessel's side, and, in consequence, 
the fishermen are not able to set their seine. As a rule the man on the lookout aloft 
reports the school of fish and indicates the direction in which it is and tells about how 
far it is distant. After the boat leaves the vessel's side, however, the captain, or seine- 
master, who steers, takes charge of her, and when the boat approaches near the fish, 
which may be seen by the phosphoresence in the water, he gives the order to put out 
the seine as his judgment may direct. On special occasions this method may be some- 
what varied, but the usual practice of setting a seine in the night is the one described 
above. Sometimes a iiortion of the net is set from the boat while towing astern of the 
vessel ; or, again, even while the boat is towing alongside. In the latter case the tow- 
ing rope is fastened to the boat some distance aft from the stem, so that she will keep 
from the schooner's side some ten or fifteen feet. The oarsmen have out their oars 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [G8] 

When a school of mackerel bas been takeu in the seine and the net is 
pursed up, a signal is made by the crew of the seine-boat, who have a 
lantern, so as to attract the attention of the men on board of the vessel 
who immediately bring the latter near the seine-boat. The skipper and 
three or four of the crew then go on board the vessel in the dory and 
bring the schooner along side the seine-boat, performing this evolution 
in the same manner as it is done in the daytime. The lantern, which is 
always carried in the seine-boat, enables the skipper to find her without 
any trouble. Much vexatious delay and difficulty, however, sometimes 
occurs in consequence of the light carried by the seine-boat's crew being 
extinguished. In such case it is not only hard, but sometimes impossi- 
ble for the men on the vessel to find the seine-boat, since on a dark, 
windy night she cannot be seen more than a few rods distant. 

The practice of using a large lantern to attract the fish nearer to the 
surface of the water than they usually come, so that they can be more 
plainly seen, has met with decided success, and there seems strong reason 
for anticipating considerable improvements in this respect hereafter. 
In alluding to this matter a writer in the Cape Ann Advertiser, No- 
vember 4, 1881, says: 

"It would not greatly surprise us if the mackerel fleet, next year, 
were supplied with powerful calcium lights, to be carried at the mast- 
head, and that the fishery will be extensively prosecuted in the night- 
time. Surely the signs of progression are manifested in ahnost every 
branch of the fisheries, and brains are rapidly coming to the front and 
making themselves manifest. A year ago who would have dreamed of 
catching mackerel in the night time? Now it is fast becoming a reality." 

As may be readily inferred this practice of night fishing is one which 
calls for the greatest possible amount of endurance and hardihood on 
the part of the fishermen who engage in it. It frequently hapiseus, 
when good catches are made for days and nights in succession, that the 
men get no rest whatever until they are thoroughly worn out by their 
constant labors and vigils and are scarcely able to refrain from falling 
asleep even when engaged at their work.< Nor is the work on the fish- 
ing-ground all they have to do. When a fare is obtained, all sail is 
made U-pon the vessel and she is driven as swiftly as possible for the 

ready to pull wlienever the men aloft gives the order for them to cast off. These 
methods of setting the seine, however, are only adopted when the fish do not show 
plainly, so that they can be seen by the men on the vessel's deck, or in the boat ; it 
therefore becomes necessary for the man on the masthead to give the requisite orders 
for throwing out the seine as Avell as to direct the wheelsman how to steer the vessel 
until the boat leaves the side. 

Captain Smith has never known a vessel to make a complete circle around a school 
of mackerel while towing the seine-boat from which the net was being thrown out, 
but thinks it probable that it may have been done. 

A lantern is carried both in the seine boat and dory, the one in the former always 
being kept darkened or out of sight until the seine is set, since a light would so blind 
the men in the boat that it would be difficult for them to perform successfully the work 
of settina; the net. 



[69] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

home port, where the fish are landed, new supplies taken on board, and 
again the men go to sea without, in the mean time, having an oppor- 
tunity of visiting their homes or of securing the rest they so much 
stand in need of. So sharp is the competition in this fishery, and so 
eager are the fishermen to "make hay while the sun shines," that is, to 
improve every opportunity during the short season while the mackerel 
can be taken, that the only limit to their labors is when nature is no 
longer able to sustain the extraordinary drafts that are made upon it. 
The following notes written by Cajit. S. J. Martin will serve to give an 
idea of the continued labor and consequent fatigue which the fishermen 
endure : 

"(^ur mackerel fishermen have drove business this year. I know a 
number of cases where vessels came in in the morning with 300 bar- 
rels of mackerel [which were landed] and went out [again] the same 
night. The schooner " Fleetwing" caught 210 barrels of mackerel; came 
into Gloucester with theai all on deck; hired 20 men who had them [the 
fish] all dressed and salted at two o'clock the following morning. The 
vessel's crew went home to sleep ; went out again the same morning at 
eight o'clock. 

"Schooner "William M. Gaffney" came in herewith 450 barrels of 
mackerel, of which 150 barrels were fresh on deck. The men had not 
been to sleep for two days and nights, and were nodding while putting 
the mackerel in the barrels. Thej' got the mackerel all salted at four 
o'clock ih the afternoon. Captain Smith then told the men to go home 
and rest till morning, but to be down the first thing after breakfast, as 
he wanted to get the mackerel out and go to sea in the evening. This 
they did." 

The success of the night fishing was quite marked in the fall of 1881, 
as has been indicated above, and as the following paragraphs will show : 

" Several of the [mackerel] fleet have made night hauls recently, some 
of them securing as high as 200 to 300 barrels at one setting of the 
seine. The operations are conducted by a lookout stationed at the 
foremast-head of the vessel, who gives the orders to the boat's crew in 
charge of the seine, as in the night-time the motions of a school of 
mackerel cannot be seen from the boat in pursuit of the fish, nor from 
the deck of the schooner." — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 21, 18S1.) 

"Schooner "Henry Friend" took 140 wash barrels [of mackerel] at 
one haul Sunday night [October 16]." 

Schooner "Phantom" went out Sunday morning, and about 11 o'clock 
]). m. discovered a school of mackerel on Middle Bank, and getting her 
seine out secured ninety wash barrels. The night was very dark, and 
lanterns were found necessary to conduct the seining operations and find 
the way back to the vessel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 28, 1881.) 

In regard to the night fishing for mackerel in the fall of 1881, Ca})- 
tain Martin writes as follows: 

"Seven-eightlis of the mackerel since the 10th of Sei)tember have 



KEPOET OF COMMISkSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [70] 

been caught iu the night. Catching mackerel in the night is done with 
great difficulty. Sometimes the vessel goes away from the boat. There 
were two such cases this fall. Schooner "Everett Pierce's" boat went 
out and set around a school of mackerel, and the seine was fall of fish. 
At this time a squall of wind came and blew the lantern out, and the 
two men on board of the vessel lost sight of the boat. The men were 
in the boat from 11 o'clock at night until 5 o'clock the next morning. 
They were obliged to cut holes iu the seine in order to let the mackerel 
go out so as to save the net, for if the mackerel died the seine would 
have been lost. The crew of the "Minnehaha," of Swampscott, had a 
similar experience the same night. The darker the night the better it 
is for seining, since the water will 'lire' more. When watching for 
mackyrel one man is on the mast-head. He can see a school from 
the mast-head when he could not see it from the deck of the vessel. 
Sometimes the fish may be seen from the deck, but when the men get 
in the seine-boat they are not able to see them. A man on the mast- 
head can see them all the time. He gives orders to the men in the 
boat which way it is best for them to go. Captain Martin, of the 
schooner " j^orthern Eagle," saw a school of mackerel one night. They 
could not see them plainly, so the lantern was held up, when the mack- 
erel could be seen from the boat. They then set their seine and got 150 
barrels of mackerel. When the fish saw the light they came nearer the 
surface. Sometimes when the mackerel are close to the surface it is not 
necessary to have a man on the mast-head siuce they may be seen from 
the deck and seine-boat. It is not very often that the mackerel come 
to the surface during the fall of the year. Sometimes on a calm night 
in summer you t.an hear them rushing, but not often. Catching mack- 
erel in the night is hard work. Say, for instance, you get 200 barrels 
a night, and perhaps it is the latter jiart of the night, it will take all 
day to dress and salt them, head them up, and get them below. Thus 
if another dark night follows, all of the men are on the lookout for 
another school. After looking for, perhaps, two hours, some one (most 
likely the man on the mast-head) gives the alarm, telling those on deck 
where the fish are. The vessel is then kept in the direction of the 
school, and as soon as they can be seen from the deck the men jump 
into the boat, shoving off from the vessel, vi^hile the captain stands up 
with the steering-oar in his hand, looking for the school. Soon he 
espies the fish, or the man on the mast-head sees them, and tells the 
men in the boat which way to go. When the captain sees them he sings 
out: 'I see them, boys! Pull away! Pull hard, the mackerel are going- 
fast.' When the boat is in the right {josition the captain shouts, 'Give 
'em twine,' and away goes the seine, three men heaving it out as fast as 
they can. When they are nearly around the school they sing out : ' Give 
them twine.' Sometimes they make a good circle so that the seine-boat 
and dory will meet, but it is difficult to do this in the night. When the 
seine comes together they haul iu on the purse-line, and when the net 



[71] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

is pursed up and they see the mackerel, signs are made for tbe vessel, 
which comes alongside. The lines are hove from the boat and the 
mackerel are hailed in on deck and dressed." 

(/.) TJie mackerel pocket, or spiller. — In 1877 the schooner "Alice," ol 
Swan's Island, had a bag-net made of haddock ganging-line, into which 
the hsh were transferred when there were too many to be cared for at 
once. This vessel began the season in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, but 
caught only 200 barrels of mackerel there, and later fished on the coast 
of Maine, where, up to October, she had caught 1,400 barrels. 

A development of this idea is the mackerel pocket or spiller, patented 
in April, 1880, by H. E. Willard, of Portland, Me., an article long 
needed in the mackerel seine fishery, and which has received from the 
fishermen the name of "mackerel pocket," or "spiller." It was first 
used by the patentee in 1878, and Capt. Geo. Merchant, jr., of Glouces- 
ter, Mass., invented and put into practical operation an improved 
" spiller" last year (1880), though it was not until the present summer 
that the advantage of its use was known to the majority of the mack- 
erel fishermen, who have hastened to adoi)t it, and now more than thirty 
of the vessels sailing from this port are each provided with one of the 
pockets, 

The apparatus is a large net-bag, 36 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 30 
feet deep 5 it is made of stout, coarse twiue and is attached to the side 
of the vessel, where it is kept in position, when in use, hj wooden poles 
or "outriggers," which extend out a distance of 15 feet from the 
schooner's rail. 

When distended in this manner a "spiller" will hold over 200 barrels 
of mackerel, which can thus be kept alive, as in the well of a s;nack, 
until the crew, who have captured them in the great purse-seines, have 
time to cure their catch. As is well known, it frequently happens that 
several hundred barrels of mackerel are taken at a single haul. Here- 
tofore, when such a large quantity of fish were caught, but a compara- 
tively small portion of them could be cured by the crew of the vessel 
to which the seine belonged. The result was that when a large catch 
w^as made, a considerable percentage of the fish were generally "given 
away" to some other vessel, since if only a part of them were removed 
from the seine to the vessel's deck, the remainder being left in the net 
until the first lot were cured, the chances were nine to one that the fine 
twine of which the purse-seines are made would be bitten in many 
places by the swarming dogfish {Squalus Americanus), that befc noir of 
the mackerel fisher. In addition to the injury to the net, the inclosed 
body of fish were thus allowed to escape and went streaming out through 
the numerous holes made by the l^een teeth of these voracious blood- 
hounds of the sea, which, in their fierce and ravenous pursuit of the 
imprisoned mackerel, usually succeeded in robbing the fisherman of a 
large portion of the fruits of his labors.* 



* Captain S. J. Martin writes that in the- snmmer of 1H81 thu crew of one of the 
mackerel schooners endeavored, to save their seine from the depredations of the dog- 



En:PORT OF COMMISSI' ■NER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [72] 

The "spiller" is only made of coarse twine, and tliougli not entirely 
exempt from the ravages of the dogfish and sharks, is rarely injured by 
them 5 and now when a large school of mackerel are caught in a seine 
the fish are turned into the bag, from which they are "bailed out" on 
to the sclioor.er's deck only as tVist as they can be dressed, and in this 
way it frcviuently happens that a lull fare may be secured from a single 
set of the net. * * * 

The introduction of this simple net-bag will undoubtedly save to our 
iishing fleet many thousands of dollars, even in this the first season of 
its adoption. 

The "spiller" invented by Mr. Willard was simply a sheet of netting 
540 meshes square, bound around with rope ; it is made of five sheets 
of twine, each 180 meshes deep and 540 meshes long. These sheets are 
iaced together. This net, when in use, is suspended from its four cor- 
ners to the side of the vessel and the outriggers, mentioned above, and 
hangs something like a hammock. From its shallowness, however, it 
was not so well adapted for the purpose for which it was designed as 
was the deeper bag- shaped net subsequently devised by OaiJtaiu Mer- 
chant, and which has been described above.* 

The mackerel pocket is hung to 1^-inch rope, and on the portion of 
this which comes next to the vessel are strung egg-shajied wooden 
floats. These are only for the purpose of securing the edge of the net- 
bag ilrmly to the rail of the vessel. The border of the pocket being- 
drawn over the rail, a board is laid on top of it and held in position by 
wooden luns passing through both board and rail, the net being thus 
fastened between the two. 

To the outer edge of the mackerel pocket, either Williard's or Mer- 
chant's, is attached a rope bridle, the ends of which are fastened at a 
distance of about 9 feet from each outrigger,* a thimble is seized into 
the upper part of this bridle, and when the mackerel have been turned 
into the pocket the fore and after staysail halliards are bent into this 
thimble, and the outer edge of the pocket is supported thereby so as to 
take as much strain as ijossible off the outriggers, which are only 4 
inches in diameter. The outer and upper corners of the "spiller" are 
supported by ropes which run through single blocks attached to the 
farther ends of the outriggers. By means of these ropes the outside 
edge of the pocket may be raised or lowered. When a school of mack- 
erel has been caught in the seine, the pocket is slacked down to the 
surface of the water, and its outer edge having been fastened to the 

fish by banling the staysail underneath it, thinking that if they could thus prevent 
the doghsh from seeing the mackerel inclosed in the net the latter -would not be 
harmed. But this did not succeed full^', since the sail was badly bitten and much in- 
jured by the dogfish, making this experiment a rather costly one. 

*Tlie "mackerel pockets" constructed by Capt. George Merchant, of Gloucester, 
are 33 feet long, 30 feet deep, from 15 to 18 feet wide across the mouth; two-inch 
mesh, and knit of 12-21 half-patent twine. 



[73] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

cork-rope of the seiue, the fishermen gather in on the twine of the latter, 
and, by dexterous management, turn the whole body of fish into the 
bag provided for their reception, and where they -can be kept alive, as 
previously mentioned, until such time as they cau be properly cared 
for. The mackerel having been transferred to the pocket, its outer edge 
is usually raised slightly above the water. When the vessel is rolling 
and there are many fish in the pocket there is often considerable strain 
brought to bear on the outriggers, which, however, being supported 
by guys or tackles to the standing rigging, rarely break. It may be 
assumed, perhaps, that the enormous catches of some of the mackerel 
schooners in the summer of 1881 are due very largely to the use of this 
implement. Never within the history of the fishing business of New 
England have so many fish been caught or so much money made by a 
single vessel in the mackerel season as has been the case in the year of 
le:81. The schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, Maine, is reported by 
the secretary of the Boston Fish Bureau to have taken 1,900 barrels 
of mackerel, the value of which exceeded $28,000. The schooner " Ed- 
ward E. Webster," of Gloucester, caught 4,500 barrels of mackerel, stock- 
ing more than $26,000. A long list of other large catches might be 
added in proof of the efficacy of the mackerel pocket, but for obvious 
reasons they are omitted here. 

16. — Taking care of the fish. 

The manner of earing for the fish is very similar to that upon the 
mackerel schooners fishing in the old way with jigs, excepting that a 
larger quantity is likely to be taken at once, necessitating nuicli more 
haste in salting or dressing them. When haste is necessary, the process 
of "plowing" is usually deferred until after the fish have been salted. 

Mr. Gordy thus describes the method of dressing on a seining 
schooner: "The men engaged in dressing are divided into gangs gener- 
ally of three men each. Each gang has two wooden trays about 3 feet 
square and 6 or 8 inches deep; these are placed on the tops of barrels; 
one is called a 'gib-tub' the other a 'splitting-tub."^* 

Except on the seiners, the mackerel when caught are put into bar- 
rels, and the splitting is done upon a board laid across the top of the 
barrel, rather than in a " splitting-tub." One man of each gang splits, 
the other two gib, or eviscerate, the fish. The tub of the man who 
splits, of course, contains the fish to be split. With a scoop-net the 
splitter, or one of the "gibbers," from time to time,- fills the split- 
ting-tub from the pile of mackerel lying upon the deck. On the side 
of the splitting-tray next to the "gibbers" is aboard about 6 to 10 
inches wide, called a "splitting-board," on which the splitter places the 
fish as he cuts them open. He takes them in his left hand (on which he 
has a mitten) round the center of the body, head from him, and with the 
splitting-knife splits them down the center of the back. As fast as he 

*Al80 called, especially in Gloucester, "gib-keelers" and "splittiug-keelers." 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [74] 

splits tlie fish he tosses them into the tray of the "gibbers." The 
"gibbers" protect their hands with gh>ves or mittens. As fast as 
the "gibbers" remove the viscera, with a peculiar double motion of 
the thumb and fingers of the right hand, they throw the fish into bar- 
rels, which are partially filled with water; these are called "wash-bar- 
rels." If the men have time they "plow" the fish before salting them, 
making a gash in the abdominal cavity nearly to the skin with the 
peculiar knife, "the plow," provided for the purpose. 

Before tlie fish are salted the dirty water is poured out and clean 
water is added. About one barrel of salt is used for every four barrels 
of mackerel. This is the first salting. When the fish have been salted 
they are jilaced in unheaded barrels until the weather is unfit for fish- 
ing, or the deck is filled with them, when they are carefully headed up 
and stowed away below. 

The speed with which a large deck -load of mackerel can be disposed 
of by the c.ew is something marvelous. A good splitter will handle 
f.om forty-five to sixty mackerel a minute. In one well-authenticated 
case a man split sixty- seven mackerel a minute for three consecutive 
minutes.* A good "gibber" can handle a barrel of large mackerel in 
from five to seven minutes. A smart crew of fourteen men can dispose 
of a deck-load of large mackerel in from fifteen to eighteen hours, salt- 
ing them away properly in the barrels. The smaller the mackerel the 
longer it takes to dress a barrel ot them, the time required to handle a 
small or a large mackerel being precisely the same. 

When the fish are to be iced and carried fresh to market they can be 
disposed of much more rapidly, it being simply necessary to stow them 
away in the hold without splitting. They are usually washed before 
being placed in ice, and occasionally gibbed without splitting, the vis- 
cera being drawn through the gil! openings.! The most rapid way of 
caring for the fish is to place them in barrels ol ice- water. This is done 
for the most i)art in the spring- or fall. 

* An expert can split mackerel nearly as fast in the darkest night as at any other 
time. The sense of tonoh becomes so acute from long practice that the iishtrmaii 
can tell(mthout seeing it) when he grasps a mackirel whether its head is in the 
right direction or not, and also which side should be laid to the board in order to 
bring the fish's back in proper position for the knife. The splitter holds the koife 
with his fingers, letting the thumb slide doAYn along the upper side of the fish, thus 
guiding unerringly the keen and swifdy moving blade. Whether the fish be large or 
small it is almost invariably split with the utmost precision, the edge of the knife 
glancing along on tlialeft side of the vertebra, and scarcely a hair's breadth from it, 
while the point goes just deep enough and no farther. But one must witness the 
operation of splitting mackerel in oider to fully appreciate the skillfulness of the 
performance. 

t Fresh mackerel are never gibbed for the New York market in spring, but a law of 
Massachusetts compels the fishermen to eviscerate all mackerel taken to Boston. In 
the first named port the cargoes of fresh fish are sold by commission merchants, while 
in Boston the captain sells diiectly to the dealers. 



[75] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

17. — EUNNING FOR THE MARKET. 

Those mackerel schooners eu gaged in market fishing find it desirable 
to make their passages with the utmost speed, hut rapid passages in 
summer are, of course, much less dangerous than those made in winter 
by the haddock and halibut vessels. Great expedition is used by all 
mackerel vessels, since the season is short, and thej'^ feel obliged to take 
advantage of every opportunity. In the case of salted fish, however, 
there is no such anxiety to sell, and the chief desire of the skipper is to 
laud his fish and to return to the fishing ground with no unnecessary 
loss of time. 

It often happens that mackerel-catchers who are not engaged in the 
fresh-fish trade take a big haul, 200 barrels or so, when they have but 
few barrels to put them in and scarcely any salt. In such cases it is of 
the highest importance to reach home if possible, or at least some large 
fishing port where barrels and salt can be obtaiued, and all the sail that 
can be spread or that the vessel will carry is set. 

18. — Landing the cargoes. 

The mackerel are hoisted out on the wharf by a horse, the duty of 
the crew being to hook on the barrels and to roll them to the i)roper 
places on the wharf, after they are landed, where the barrels are gen- 
erally stowed on their heads ready to be opened. In seasons of abun- 
dance, and when the men have become exceedingly fatigued froiu their 
labors in catching and dressing a fare of mackerel, it is often the case 
that the skipper will hire a number of longshoremen to take the fish 
out of the vessel. At such times, too, the shoremen are employed to 
plow the fish, and also to assist in packing them, since the fishermen 
find it more profitable to hire men to do this than to remain ashore and 
do it themselves. For, iu the mean time, they may be fortunate enough 
to catch a fare of two or three hundred barrels of mackerel. 

In the days of hook and line fishieg, the landing and packing of 
mackerel was carried on much more leisurely than at the ])resent time. 
At first it was customary for the men composing a crew to hoist the 
mackerel out on the wharf by tackles ; but within the last fifteen or 
twenty years it has been found more profitable to employ a horse for 
this purpose, s^ince the work of discharging can be. carried on much 
more rapidly than before, and with less tax upon the energies of the 
men. The several processes of unheading the barrels, culling, weigh- 
ing, and packing the mackerel have been fully described in another 
chapter and need not be repeated here. 

19. — Financial profits of seining. 

The following tables, copied from the annual reports of the Boston 
Fish Bureau, show the large catches and "stocks" by the mackerel 
fleet in New England waters for the seasons of 1880 and 1881. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [7G] 

1881. - Barrels Amount of 

cured. stock. 

Schooiler Alice, Capt. H. B. Joyce, Swan's Island, Me 3, 700 $19, 548 75 

Schooner Edward E. Webster, Capt. S. Jacobs, Gloucester, Mass.. 3,969 19, 465 00 

Schooner Alice C. Fox, Captain Eowe, Portlantl, Me 13, 432 00 

Schooner Louis and Rosa 2,769 12,492 00 

Schooner Frank Butler 2,036 11,600 00 

Schooner Mary Greenwood 1, 700 11, 035 GO 

Schooner Kate Fiorence 2, 500 11, 000 00 

Schooner Addie F. Cole 1,900 10, 500 00 

Schooner Cora Lee 1, 875 10, 250 00 

Schooner Cora Smith 2,150 10,000 00 

Schooner M. O. Curtis 2,000 10,000 00 

Schooner Mary Snow 1, 352 9, 281 00 

Schooner F. F. Nickerson 2,350 9,730 00 

Schooner Dictator 1,6.52 9,213 00 

Schooner Morning Star 1, 527 9, 087 (iO 

1881. 

* Schooner Alice, Swan's Island, Me 4, 905 28, 055 23 

t Schooner Edward E. Webster, Gloucester, Mass 4, 500 26, 570 00 

Schooner Isaac Rich, Swan's Island, Me 3, 276 15, 500 00 

Schooner Frank Butler, Boston, Mass 2, 600 15, 000 00 

Schooner Mertie and Delmar, S. Chatham, Mass 3, 005 14, 138 00 

t Schooner A. E. Herrick, Swan's Island, Me 2, 280 13, 674 00 

Schooner Robert Pettis, Wellfleet, Mass 2, 580 12, 419 18 

Schooner Roger Williams, North Haven, Me 2, 450 12, 000 00 

Schooner R. J. Evans, Harwichport, Mass 3, 000 12, 000 00 

Schooner Louis and Rosa, Boothbay, Me 3, 028 11, 557 46 

When it is taken into consideration that these vessels are employed 
in fishing barely eight months at the longest, and some of them only 
four to six months, it will be seen that the business is an exceediugly 
profitable one for many of the fleet, while the greater portion make fair 
returns,§ 

* 3,665 barrels pickled, and 1,240 fresh; total, 4,905 barrels. 

1 1,600 barrels pickled, and 2,900 barrels fresh; total, 4,500 barrels. 

I The Herrick did not sail until July 22. 

§ Among the "fishing items" in the Cape Ann Advertiser of October 21, 1881, we 
find the following mention of catches of mackerel made by some of the seiners, which 
may terve to show the energy and activity with which this fishery is prosecuted: 
"Schooner 'Moro Castle' sailed from this port on Thursday morning of last week, and 
returned in the evening of the same day with 140 wash barrels of handsome mackerel. 
Schooner ' Dreadnaught' sailed from Portland after mackerel the other night, was 
gone twruty-one hours, and returned with 205 barrels. Schooner 'David A. Osier' 
sailed from Hull Friday evening, and was at this port next morning with 105 wash 
barrels of mackerel. Schooner ' Wildfire,' Captain McLain, has landed and sold !t?3,200 
wortli of mackerel in the past fortnight, and has enough fish on board to add another 
thousand dollars to her stock. Schooner 'Fleetwiug' took 210 barr.'Ls sea-packed 
mackerel at one haul of the seine oif Piymouth on Satiirdaj*. Schooner ' Wm. M. Gaff- 
ney ' took 140 wash barrels at one haul Sunday, and schooner ' Henry Friend ' 140 wash 
barrels at one haul Sunday night. Schooner ' JNiadawaska Maid' left Gloucester Sun- 
day, turning Eastern Point at 11 o'clock a. m., and arrived at Boston at five o'clock 
'Monday morning, with 225 barrels sea-packed mackerel; in five weeks the 'Mada- 
\vaska Maid' has landed 1,000 barrels of mackerel. The schoouer 'Wm. M. Gati'uey 
landed 900 barrels of mackerel in twenty-one days." 



[77] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

20. — History of the use of purse-seines. 

The earliest record of the use of the purse-seine is the follow iug, ob- 
tained from Capt. E. T. Deblois, of Portsmouth, E. I. : 

"The first purse- seine that was made, so far as I know, was made by 
John Tallmau the first, and Jonathan Brownell and Christopher Bar- 
ker, in the year 1826. It was 284 meshes deep and 65 fathoms long. 
The purse- weight was a 56-pound weight, and the blocks were the com- 
mon single blocks, and they had to reeve the end of the purse-line 
through the blocks before they put the purse-weight overboard. The 
first time the seine was set there were fourteen men to help ; they set 
around what they called a 500 barrel school of menhaden, and while 
they were pursing the fish rushed against the twine so hard that they 
twisted and snarled the net around the purse-line and weight to that 
extent that the men could not gather the seine up or get her into the 
boat again as they were, and after they had worked six hours, and quar- 
reled over the matter, they decided to tow or warp the seine ashore at 
high water, and when the tide left the seine they would be able to unsnarl 
it, which they did the next day. It was a number of days before they 
could muster courage to set her again, and when they did they set 
around a small school with better success." 

There is a general impression among the fishermen of Northern j^ew 
England that the purse-seine was a development of the " spring-seine," 
elsewhere referred to, but this would seem to be a mistake, since the 
spring-seine, which really appears to have been nothing but a large 
sheet net wdth vspecial appliances adapting it for use on board of a ves- 
sel, was not used in ISTew England until 1853 or 1854. There is also 
another tradition to the effect that the purse-seine was invented about 
the year 1837 by a native of Maine who had for some years been em- 
ployed as a hand on a Gloucester schooner, and who conceived the idea 
of capturing mackerel in large numbers, and invented a seine substan- 
tially like the one now in use, which, finding the Gloucester fishermen 
unwilling to enter into experiments, he carried to Ehode Island, where 
it was used in the vicinity of Seaconnet for seining menhaden. This 
would appear to be a conglomeration of errors, partly imaginary, partly 
based upon the circumstances already narrated by Captain Deblois. 

Eeference has already been made to the claim that the purse-seine 
was invented in Ehode Island as early as 1814. Another early allusion 
to this new instrument of capture was given in the following paragraph, 
taken from the Gloucester Telegraph of Wednesday, July 21, 1839: 

'■'■Jifew Fishing TacJcle. — We noticed, a week or two since, the fact that 
Capt. Isaiah Baker, of Harwich, had recently commenced fishing with 
a seine of entirely new construction and with remarkable success. It 
was stated in the Yarmouth Eegister that he had cleared about $3,000 
in one week, by taking shad. A correspondent writes us from West 
Harwich that the fortunate captain still continues to make equally 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [78] 

'glorious hauls.' He is now in Provincetown with Lis seine catdiing- 
mackerel, and recently took 60 barrels at one ' shoot.' This new mode of" 
fishing bids fair to create an entire revolution in the mackerel and shad 
fisheries. Our correspondent says that the Vineyard Sound will soon 
become a great fishing ground. It is well known that all the shad, 
bass, mackerel, etc., which are found in Block Island Channel early in 
the spring pass through the sound, and it is now ascertained that with 
proper seines they may be caught in great abundance. With a. purse- 
seine, when mackerel are schooling or shoaling, the fishermen may run 
around them and inclose one hundred harrels. They will not bite at 
bobs as in years past, but Cape Cod ingenuity has devised something 
to out-general them." 

The purse-seine was undoubtedly a development and extension of the 
idea of the drag-ssiue supplemented by that of the giil-net used at sea 
in sweeping around schools of fish. 

The first seine used north of Cape Cod was that carried by Capt. 
i^athaniel Adams, of Gloucester, in the schooner "Splendid," in the 
year 1850. Capt. ]N"athaniel Watson, of the "Rax>hr.el," began using 
one the same year. According to Mr. Luther Maddox, the earliest ex- 
periments were at Chelsea Beach. It is claimed by some that Gorham 
Babson, of Gloucester, had one in use as early as 1847. 

The early seines were about 200 yards in length, 22 fathoms in depth, 
and of 2^-inch mesh, the bunts being about 250 meshes square. The 
twine was much heavier than that used in the present seine; the whole 
net weighed 600 or 700 pounds. The seine in its present form did not 
come into general use until about 1860. 

The rapidity with which this expensive form of apparatus has come 
to be generally employed in our fisheries seems almost marvelous. At 
the present time the total number of these nets used in the mackerel 
fishery is not far from 400, valued at 160,000 dollars ; in the menhaden 
fishery 366, valued at 138,100 dollars. The total value of the purse- 
seines with the value added of the seine-boats, which really are parts of 
the same apparatus, cannot be less than 440,000 dollars. 

Capt. W. H. Oakes states that in early days a certain kind of net 
was used in catching menhaden which reached to the bcttom in shallow 
v/ater and which was pursed by means of ropes. Capt. George Blatch- 
ford used to go for menhaden in an old ijinkie, and used one of these 
nets. 

Captain Oakes is of the opinion that Capt. William Eatclifi', of I'ocky 
Xeck, Gloucester, was the first man who caught mackerel in deep water 
oft'- shore. He used some kind of a purse-seine, and with it in two hauls 
caught about 00 barrels of mackerel off ]\Ionhegan in 90 fathoms of 
water. Capt. George Merchant, jr., of Gloucester, writes as follovv'S re- 
garding the early attempts to seine mackerel in deep water. He says: 
" Previous to 1862 the only mackerel caught in deep water, in seines, 
were taken with the schools of pogics. From one to ten or twelx'e 



[79] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

hundred iu number were often caught iu this way, the seiners supposing 
that their being with the pogies prevented them from trying to escape, 
since pogies seldom leave the seine after it is around them, but we never 
set the seine for them (mackerel) when in deeper water than ten fathoms, 
our seines not being deeper than that at that time. One day in July, 
1862, I lay at anchor near Boon Island, it being calm at the time. 
While lying there a school of mackerel came up and began to play 
around at the surface, not far from us. Knowing that the water was 
twenty-five fathoms deep where the fish were, I did not go after them 
right away, but after they had been schooling some time I concluded to 
go out and look at them. I found the water to be as I had expected — 
twenty-five fathoms deep. I thought, however, that I would try just to 
see what would come of it, although the men said it would be no use, as 
the fish would soon disappear, but we threw out our seine and went 
around them, with, as little noise as possible, and commenced to purse 
up, the men saying that the mackerel would soon go, but they did not 
go, but continued to school in the seine until the latter was pursed up, 
and the rings on the boat. Then we thought we had done something 
never before heard of. We took fifty barrels of large mackerel that 
time." 

"After securing the fish I weighed anchor and ran to Eichmond's Isl- 
and. When I arrived there I found fifteen fishing vessels at anchor. 
I told them (the skippers and crews) that I had taken fifty barrels of 
mackerel in deep water, but they would not believe it, saying that if I 
had it would never be done again. But it set them to thinking, and 
they soon found that mackerel could be caught in deei3 water. The 
fleet of seiners began to increase from that time, and has kept growing 
until the present, when it amounts to about two hundred sail.* I date 
the catching of mackerel in deep water from the time and occurrence I 
have mentioned above. I was in one of the first seven vessels that 
sailed on seining voyages from Gloucester, Capt. Samuel Blatchford 
and Capt. T^athaniel Watson being the two first to try the business, 
and they both gave up seining, as it did not pay them." 

WellHeet, Mass., had 52 mackerel seiners in 1877. Seines were first 
carried by the W^ellfleet vessels about 1857, but their use was soon 
abandoned. In 1863 to 1865 the "Mary B. Dyer" had a seine, and since 
that time more or less seines have been in use. In 1873 all the vessels 
went into this business. 

The first purse-seine brought into Central Maine, writes Mr. Earll, 
was bought by Mr. Amherst Spofibrd, and taken to Damariscove in 
1859, and used with rather indifiereut success until 1861; it was 130 
fathoms long and 12 fathoms deep ; the parties kept it on the island 
and took it out in small boats whenever fish were seen schooling in the 
vicinity. It seems that Mr. Spofibrd did not thoroughly understand 
setting it and caught but few fish. 

* Sailing from Gloucester. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [80] 

In 1861 lie sold it to Messrs. William Gri^ay and Miles Pierce, and it 
was taken to Cape Newagen, where it was successfully used by carrying- 
it out in a small boat and landing the fish on a dressing stage on shore 
in the same way. The next year it was put aboard a small schooner, 
the "Leon," and the fish landed as before in small boats to be dressed, 
the vessel being only large enough to carry the seine. 

In 1803 the seine was put aboard the schooner " Dawning Day," 73 tons 
O. M., and the fish were dressed aboard. This was really the commence- 
ment of deep-water seining in this section, and the vessel did so well as 
to induce others to go into the business the following year. 

The schooner " Niagara" was the first to provide herself with a seine in 
1864, and another was bought and owned by two small vessels, the "Wild 
Eose" and the "jSTeptune," one carrying the seine and the other salt and 
barrels for curing the fish. This plan did not work well and was soon 
abandoned. The schooner "]^iagara" did Avell from the start and has 
always been high line of the seiners for this section, 

Georgetown sent one seiner, the " Coquimbo," in 1865, and a little later 
the schooner " Sunbeam," Captain McMann, but they met with poor suc- 
cess, and no seiners have been sent since fiom that port. 

Westport has made two .attempts at introducing seining; the first in 
1872 by schooner "Jennie Armstrong," Capt. B. F. Jewett, and the sec- 
<:nd a three-masted schooner of 350 tons, the "Geo. W. Jewett," Capt. 
A. M. Jewett, carrying two seines and crews in 1875. Both vessels did 
very poorly and gave up the business after the first season. 

21. — The attempted use of the puese-seine in Norwegian 

WATEES. 

In 1878 a Gloucester vessel essayed fishing for mackerel with a])urse- 
seine on the coast of Norway. In April the schooner "Notice," Capt. 
Kuud Markurson, departed on this mission, taking a crew of twelve 
men and the most approved seining apparatus. It was remarked by a 
writer in the Deutsche Fischerei Zeitung, of July: 

"The mackerel fishermen, who have till now been in the habit of ply- 
ing their trade in open but suitable boats, are, however, greatly agi- 
tated at the present moment in consequence of the arrival at Risor, some 
three weeks ago, of an American fishing smack, direct from Gloucester, 
in North America, understood to be followed by a whole fishing fleet 
from New England, to take part in the mackerel fishery outside tha 
Norwegian fishing territorium. As all these American smacks are re- 
ported as provided with bag or purse nets, by means of which they are 
enabled to catch more fish upon one single haul than ten Norwegian 
boats during a whole day, it is obvious that the Norwegian fishermen 
will have to discard their old mode of fishing, and to have recourse to 
the American fishing method, if they do not want to lose all the advan- 
tages enjoyed till now. The mackerel fishery has always been of great 
importance to Norway, some 7,000,000 of these fish being on the aver- 



Diagram showins; the CatcSi of Mackerel by Citizens of Massachusetts het-n^een the rears 1804 nnrl 1881 inchisive. 




Til., uiibiokcn liiH' iiidiciitea ,|iiantitic-s of ,,i,l.l,.cl .iKu-krvcl in y>am-ls. Tlie bi 



olcen liri<- indicates the total n 



al (inautities of mackerel taVen, wliother sold in the markets in a fresh condition or salte<i. 

































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[81] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

age caugiit annually, of which number about 70,000 centners, at a 
value of from 000,000 to 700,000 crowns, are exportt'cl. The government 
is well aware of the danger tlireatening the public weal, and has con- 
sequently taken every possible measure in order to prevent such dis- 
astrous results as the loss by the Norwegian fishermen of the mack- 
erel fishery. A most accurate description of the nets used by the Amer- 
icans has been printed, and, with a great number of nets of this kind, 
made to order by the net manufactory at Bergen, distributed among the 
fishing i)opulation. Models of the ditferent sorts of the fast-sailinj^ 
American boats have also been obtained through the Norwegian con- 
sul at (xloucester, Massachusetts, direct from the manufacturers of such 
boats. The well-known industry and activity of the Norwegian fisher- 
men, combined with the efforts of the government, will, no doubt, en- 
able them not only successfully to hold, but to improve, their own pros- 
pects as regards the mackerel fishery by the timely adoption of the 
American methods and arrangements for fishing."* 

The venture was, however, not a successful one. On his return home 
Captain Markurspn stated that he had been unable to use the seine 
advantageously owing to the fact that the mackerel did not in those 
waters school together in large bodies as they do along the New Eng- 
land shores. 

D.— THE MACKEEEL HOOK FISHEEY. 

The mackerel fishery at the time of its highest development, from 
1820 to 1870, was carried on almost exclusively by the use of httle 
hooks with heavily weighted shanks, known as '^ mackerel jigs." For 
many years there were from 600 to 900 vessels, chiefly Irom Cape Cod 
and northward, engaged in this fishery; and in the year 1831 the total 
amount of mackerel salted in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts 
was 450,000 barrels. 

As will be seen by an examination of the diagram, showing the yield 
in the mackerel fishery from 1801 to 1881, elsewhere published in this 
report, the quantity of fish taken from year to year has been extremely 
variable, but has at no other time api)roached the enormous quantity 
on record for the years 1835 and 1881. 

The jig has now been almost entirely superseded by the purse-seine, 
and this radical change in the method of catching mackerel has caused 
the desertion, by the mackerel fleet, of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and 
the practical futility — to benefit our fishermen — of the fishery clauses of 
the Treaty of Washington. All attempts, with a very few exceptions, to 
use the purse seine in the Gulf of Saint LaAvreuce have been failures. 

In 1880 the schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, caught 700 barrels by 
use of the purse-seine in the gulf, but not 10 per cent, of the other 
vessels which visited this region, then or within the four or five previous 
years, paid their expenses. 

*Capo Ann Advertiser, August 9, 1878. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [82] 

The mackerel hook fishery is of the past; and this chapter must be 
regarded, in large part, as historical. It is by no means impossible, 
however, in years to come that the old method of fishing, which had 
many undoubted adv^antages over that at present employed, will be 
revived. 

22. — FlSHINa- GROUNDS. 

The grounds frequented by the mackerel-hookers, as the fishermen 
call them, were as follows : 

{a.) The Gulf of Saint Laicrence.* — In the early part of the season 
the favorite fishing-grounds were in the southwestern part of the Gulf 
of Saint Lawrence, from Cape Gaspe to the North Cape of Prince Ed- 
ward Island; especially off Point Escnminac, Pigeon-hill ground, or 
the west shore lying along the coast from Miramichi to Point Miscou, 
Bank Bradley, Bank Orphan, and Bay of Chaleur. Later in the season, 
in July, August, and September, the i^rincipal fisheries were carried on 
upon the grounds just mentioned, also around the M gdalen Islands 
and along the north side of Prince Edward Island. Occasionally, too, 
in August and September, vessels fished on the sotlth side of Prince 
Edward Island from Georgetown to East Point. In September and 
October fishing was carried on at the Magdalen s, Prince Edward 
Island, in the Bay of Saint George, between Cape Saint George and 
Port Hood, and on the northwest shore of Cape Breton ir jm Port Hood 
to Cape North. Favorite localities were about Margaree Islands and 
Oheticamp ; also, on the east side of Cape Breton, in Aspee Bay, and 
about Sydney. About 1858 and 1859 several successful fares were made 
in the estuary of the Saint Lawrence from Cape Gaspe to Cape Chatte; 
and about the Seven Islands. and Mingan Islands on the coast of Labra- 
dor. In the year 1877 a Gloucester schooner obtained -200 barrels of 
mackerel at Port-au-Port, on the west coast of Newfoundland, t Bird 

*Note upon the origin of mackerel fishing in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. 

Mr. Daniel Cameron, of Southp|Ort, Me., thinks the first American vessels went to 
the Bay in 1832. This year 4 went, among others the schooner "Galen," Captain Pate, 
of Freeport. These schooners averaged (50 to 70 tons, carried about 250 barrels, and 
filled up in four or five days. The first vessel going to the bay from this section of 
which we learn was the schooner " Olinda," Capt. Jos. Haddocks, of Southport, in 1837. 
Captain Atwood states that, in 1834, the New England fleet in the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence consisted of six vessels, three of them from Provincetwn. The Cape Ann 
Advertiser of May 13, l'-59, refers to "the custom which has grown up within a few 
years of going to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence for mackerel, where already the supply 
is lessening." 

tA LUCKY STREAK.— The schooner "William T. Smith," Capt. Henry O. Smith, the 
last of the baymen, arrived home on Monday, bringing a good fare of mackerel, of 
whicli about 200 barrels were caught off' Newfoundland, as already mentioned in onr 
columns. These fish are of good siz« and prime qualify, and will command a ready 
sale. Captain Smith stiuck a streak of luck when he ventured into untried waters 
in pursuit of mackerel, and his voyage will xirove a profitable one, which is an 
anomaly in this branch of the fishing industry the present season. — (Caiie Ann Adver* 
tiser, November 23, 1877.) 



[83] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Eock, situated east of the Magdalen Islands, has occasionally been a fav- 
orite ground, since the mackerel taken there were almost always very 
large. 

{b.) Gulf of Maine. — From June to iSTovember excellent fishing was 
to be had in various parts of the Gulf of Maine. Early in the season 
mackerel were taken all the way from Cash's Ledge to the Bay of 
Fundyj from the middle of June to September the favorite localities 
were in the vicinity of Monhegan Island, Matinicus Eock, and Mount 
Desert Eock. From about 1830 to about 1845 some fishing was done 
in the Bay of Fundy, north of the island of Grand Manan. When the 
autumnal migration of the mackerel begins the vessels follow them as 
they proceed southward. Favorite fishing grounds are then off Port- 
land; later, about Boone Island, off Cape Ann, and the waters of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay, and along the outside of Cape Cod, the latest catches 
being generally obtained off Chatham and the eastern part of Nantucket 
Shoals. Fishing here continues sometimes until the latter part of No- 
vember.* 

(c.) George's BanTt. — Mackerel were in some years very abundant on 
George's Bank, especiidly on the southern i)ortion from June to Sep- 
tember. Later in the season the weather was generally unfavorable for 
fishing in this region. The mackerel caught here were recognized, as 
now, to be of very fine quality. 

{d.) South coast of New England. — Of late years a small quantity of 
extraordinarily fine mackerel have been caught with jigs in the vicinity 
of Block Island in summer and fall. In previous years the mackerel 
fishery in this vicinity was chiefly carried on in the spring. 

(e.) The coast of the MiddJe States from Moniaulc Point to Belaware, — 
This fishery was chiefly carried on in May, and in many respects cor- 
responded to the spring mackerel fishery described in another section 
of this chapter; this is now prosecuted with seines on the same grounds, 
and the fish are mostly taken to New York for sale, principally in a fresh 
condition, though formerly they were generally salted. 

(/.) The eastern coast of Nova Scotia. — In this region, although great 
quantities of mackerel are sometimes taken in xjounds, nets, and seines, 
in the early summer and fall, they are very rarely taken on the hook. 
About 1854 and 1855 several fares of extremely large mackerel were 
caught at Sable Island by Cape Cod vessels. 

23. — The fishermen. 

The men engaged in the mackerel hook fishery, especially in the pe- 
riod of its culmination, were almost exclusively natives of New Eng- 
land. From 1850 to 1870 the provincial element in the fleet gradually 
increased. When this fishery was most i)rosperous not less than 10,000 

* In the fall of 1H49 one of tlie writers had the opportunity of seping a fleet of mack- 
erel schooners lishiug off Chatham. The mimbcr of vessels in the fleet was A'ariously 
estimated from 500 to 700 sail — a beautiful and interesting sight. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHEETES. [84] 

were employed on board the vessels belonging to the American fleet. 
The vessels engaged in this fishery carried very large crews; in fact; 
larger than have ever been carried by other vessels. Not nnfreqnently 
a schooner of 80 to 100 tons would carry twenty men, and, in some in- 
stances, twenty-four. Among the crew were generally three or four boys^ 
sometimes five, from ten to seventeen years of age. These boys fished 
from the extreme ends of the vessel; they were frequently very success- 
ful, and by the training in this fishery fitted themselves to take respon- 
sibilities in the fishing fleet at a much earlier age than otherwise would 
have been possible. At sixteen or seventeen years of age many of the 
boys ranked among the first of the crew to which they belonged, and it 
sometimes happened that the command of a schooner was given to the 
most enterprising before they were out of their teens. 

24. — The vessels. 

Prior to 1848 the mackerel fleet was made up exclusively of the old- 
fashioned square-stern schooners registering from 25 tons to 80 or 90 
tons, old measurement, and of pinkies registering from 20 to (,0 tons. 
ISTewburyport had a large fleet of pinkies, registering, old measurement, 
from 40 to 60 tons. Most of them carried a flying jib. 

From 1848 to 1850 the necessity for swifter vessels was felt, and vari- 
ous experiments, which are described in the chapter ou the S(;hooner, 
were made. From this time on all the vessels added to the fleet were 
of improved model, approximating, more or less closely, to the modern 
type of the fishing schooner. These vessels were in those days known 
as '' sharp-shooters." As early as 1855 the character of the fleet had 
become very much modified, there being a large percentage of modern- 
built vessels, and the pinkies and square-stern schooners were retained 
only by conservatives and by the smaller ports, especially those on the 
coast of Maine. Many of these old vessels had by this time been with- 
drawn i'rom the mackerel fishery and emi)loyed in other branches of the 
fisheries. As early as 1870 the old square-stern vessels and i)inkies had 
entirely disappeared from the fleet, most of them long before that date. 

The mackerel-hookers, when fitted out for fishing, had the decks 
clear. Upon the starboard side of the vessel were arranged line-cleats. 
These were in early times small narrow cleats of pine nailed to the in- 
side of the waist, but after the introduction of finer vessels the fisher- 
men became more careful, and substituted a complicated, ladder-like 
arrangement, consisting of two long horizontal strips, which were crossed 
by from eight to twelve shorter vertical strips or cleats, with projecting 
ends, an arrangement of this kind being secured between each pair of the 
top timbers. On the top of the rail was nailed the bait-board, in which 
were cut grooves arranged for the reception of a supply of jig bait, 
which was cut into bits ready for use ; these grooves cannot be easily 
described. Upon the bait-board, or upon. the edge of the rail, were 
fastened so-called " snapper cleats," ingenious contrivances, of elastic 



[-^5] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

wood or of metal, by which the lines were kept in their places while 
the men were fishing. 

The bait-boxes were fastened on the starboard side; these were 
wooden troughs holding from one to seven or eigbt buckets of bait apiece. 
There were three of these bait-boxes, the largest placed outside of the 
rail at the foot of the main rigging, one on the quarter near the davit ; 
the third was placed at the fore rigging. The forward and after bait- 
boxes were usually less than half as large as the one amidship. The 
bait-mill was placed on deck, on the port side of the vessel, near the main 
rigging. During the later years of this fishery many of the vessels 
carried on the deck at the foot of the main rigging on the starboard side 
a bait-chest divided into two compartments, the smaller one for the 
clam bait and the larger one for the ground menhaden bait. On such 
schooners as were not provided with a bait-chest, the ground bait, or 
chum, was kept in barrels. Two of these barrels were generally kept 
near the starboard main rigging, so that those who threw out the toll- 
bait could refill the boxes with as little loss of time as possible. 

The hold was left unobstructed by bulkheads; the ballast was usually 
gravel or pebbles and was not covered by a platform. Some vessels 
carried part of their ballast in barrels, throwing it overboard when the 
barrels were needed for fish. The number of barrels carried by a vessel 
would vary, according to her size, from one hundred to six or seven 
hundred, part of these being filled with salt and bait. The mackerel- 
hookers usually carried a single boat (of the yawl pattern) at the stern. 
Occasionally vessels going to fish on the coast of Labrador, or at the 
mouth of the Saint Lawrence, or even on the coast of New England, 
carried a number of dories or other boats, which were used by the men 
when they fished in the harbors.* 

25. — Appabatus and methods of fishing. 

(«.) Tlie mackerel jig. — The mackerel jig is said to have been invented 
about the year 1815, by Abraham Lurvey, of Pigeon Cove; according 
to other authority by one Thurlow, of Newburyportt It is simjdy a 

* In certain localities the mackerel could only be taken to good advantage among 
the rocks close to the shore; and the men iished from small boats rather than from 
the side of the vessel. 

t According to Captain Merchant, the "mackerel jig" vs^as introduced at Cape Ann 
abont 1815. Mr. Abraham Lurvey, of Pigeon Cove, was oue of the first to use them, 
and was supposed to have invented them. The advantages of this new invention im- 
mediately brought it into general use. Before ''jigs" were devised, the "gangings" 
of the mackerel lines would frequently break when the fish was jerked or "slatted" 
off the hook; when the "jig" is used this rarely occurs. Before the time of the "jig" 
it was customary to bait the hooks, when mackerel wei-e plenty, with pieces of pork 
" as big as a four-pence-ha'penny." 

According to Captains Daniel Cameron and John Grey, of Southport, Me., Edward 
Caiss, a fisherman of Hingham, Mass., invented the mackerel jig between the years 
1810 and 1814, and by 1829 it had come into general use on the coast of Maine. It 
was introduced into Maine some time before 1829, but by whom no one knows. — 
[Eakll.] 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [86] 

Look, round the shank of which has been cast a plummet of lead, pew- 
ter, or tin, somewhat globular at its upper end and tapering down toward 
the bend of the hook. At the upper end is a hole through which a fishing- 
line is bent. The weight of a mackerel jig has varied from a quarter of 
an ounce to three or four ounces at difierent times during the history of 
the fishery. At first they were made much heavier than they have been 
in later years. At present many fishermen, when using jigs, prefer them 
very small. It has been stated that each fisherman lias from seven to 
twelve flsbing cleats in Ms berth at the rail. On these cleats are fastened 
an assortment of lines with jigs of various sizes, the heaviest being used 
when the mackerel are biting fast, or when the wind is blowing fresh; 
the lightest, when the water is very smooth, or when the mackerel are 
"picking," or nibbling daintily. 

The fishermen always made their jigs in molds of metal or soapstone, 
this operation being similar to the old-fashioned method of making 
ballets. In former days these molds were made of iron, but many of 
the fishermen being dissatisfied vv^ith the shape constructed them for 
their own use of lead. At present the soapstone jig-molds and the lead 
and ])ewter constitute a part ot the outfit of a vessel. 

When jigs were first introduced, however, it was customary for fisher- 
men to cast them for themselves in molds improvised in buckets of sand 
or ashes, afterwards beating into shape the rough castings, and boring 
the hole for the line. This custoin was i^revalent on some vessels as late 
as 1850, In the later years of this fishery the fishermen became very 
critical in the matter of jigs, and were not satisfied unless they were 
elegantly shaped and brilliantly polished. The lines were six or eight 
fathoms in length, of cotton, being either hawser or shroud laid. Of 
later years these have always been of cotton. In early days, when the 
heavier jigs were in vogue, much larger lines were used than at a later 
period; since 1860 it has been customary to use a kind of snood, called 
" snapx)er-line," made of strong linen thread and usually colored blue. 
The "snapper-lines" are from 15 to 18 inches long, one end being bent 
to the jig, and the other fastened to the fishing-line with what is 
called a " water-knot." During the voyage the lines are generally coiled 
up and hung upon the fishing-cleats on the waist when not in use. As 
has been stated, each man has irom eight to twelve lines, with jigs of 
different sizes, fastened to the cleats at his berth. A quantity of extra 
lines and hooks are carried by the vessel. 

(b.) The maclcerel fly-hooh. — The mackerel fly -hook, formerly very pop- 
ular and introduced before 1850, has been discontinued since 1800. This 
is an extra hook on a ganging from 12 to 15 inches long, fastened to the 
jig-line 8 or 10 inches above the jig. Not being weighted, this hook 
floats at an angle when the jig is sinking, and by using it two mackerel 
are sometimes caught at once, one biting at the jig and one on the fly- 
hook. The fly-hook went out of favor because it was liable to become 
entangled with the other fishing-gear. 



[87] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

{c.) The macJcerel gaff. — The mackerel gaff is an iron rod a quarter of 
ail iuch in diameter, 3^- feet long, having at one end two recurved sharp 
points about 2 inches long and separated at the extremities by an inter- 
val of one-half to three-quarters of an inch, returning in a line parallel 
with the direction of the rod. The mackerel gaff is fastened to a wooden 
handle about 10 or 12 feet long, and was used when the mackerel were 
schooling thickly alongside of the vessel and were not inclined to take 
the hook. The gaff was thrust among the fish and rapidly drawn back, 
often impaliug one and sometimes two mackerel at a time. This im- 
plement has not been used since the introduction of seines, and but 
rarely during the last twenty years. 

{d.) The maclcerel '' &o6" or " hohher.'''' — This is an instrument resembling 
the mackerel gaff in the manner of its use. In its rude form the bob 
was a stick of wood, around the end of which three or four cod-hooks, 
"with their barbs filed off, were fastened. The same idea has since, been 
developed in various ways, the most elaborate form being that illus- 
trated in our plate. The bob is fastened to a string and drawn through 
a school of fish, impaling them in the same manner as the gaff. This 
instrument was discontinued long before the gaff, and, in fact, has never 
been so popular. These bobs were used only when the mackerel were 
schooling in great numbers alongside of the vessel and refusing to bite. 

{€.) Bait and apparatus for its preparation. — Bait used in the mackerel 
fishery is of two kinds, (1) that put upon the hooks, and (2) that thrown 
into the water to attract the fish. 

The method of baiting the jigs which has been adopted by mackerel 
fishermen is somewhat i)eculiar, and a description of the process may 
be of interest in this place. 

As a rule, when a mackerel schooner first arrives on the fishing ground 
and is about to begin fishing with hook and line, the jigs which are to 
be immediately used are baited with small circular pieces of jiork rind, 
two or three of these being put on each hook. Sometimes, however, 
no one but the skipper uses pork-rind bait, the other members of the 
crew preferring to wait until some mackerel are caught from which they 
can procure a supply of bait for their hooks. The favorite way of bait- 
ing mackerel hooks is as follows, namely: Several thin strips about a 
half inch wide and three to five inches long, are cut either from the 
belly of the mackerel or from the lower portion of the body on either 
side of the anal fin.* When a sutficient number of these slices have 
been obtained they are cut into sections, each of which is, approximately, 
a half inch square. A large number of these pieces are put on the hook, 
completely filling the bend, after which the baits are scraped with the 
back of a knife in such a manner as to remove everything but the tough 
white skin, which, when distended in the water, forms a soft pulpy mass 



* Strips for bait cut from near the aaal fin are usually preferred, siuce they cannot 
so easily he torn from the hook as can the fatter and tenderer strips taken from the 
abdomen. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [88] 

about tlie size of the end of one's forefinger; but tliis can be contracted 
intoavery small space, and thus afford the eager fish ample opportunity 
to secure a good hold of the hook while seeking the tempting but yielding 
morsel upon it. A bait of this kind will last more than an hour without 
being renewed, even when mackerel are biting sharpl5\ When the fish 
are "i)icking" or less inclined to take the hook, a fisherman is often not 
obliged to bait his jigs more than once in a whole day. Sometimes the 
fishermen cut out a small circular piece from the throat of the mackerel, 
which they place on their hook above the scraped bait. This throat 
piece is quite firm and for awhile prevents the soft skins composing the 
bait below it from being entangled on the point of the hook and thus 
preventing the latter from easily catching the biting fish. 

In the early days of the mackerel hook fishery the toll bait chiefly 
used was made of small mackerel, and sometimes of large ones too when 
small fish could not be obtained. The viscera of the mackerel were also 
frequently used in the absence of better. From 1835 to 1840 menhaden 
came into general use, and were subsequently always in high favor. They 
had, however, been in common use by Gloucester fishermen at the very 
commencement of the century. They were caught in gill nets. It was 
the custom of the Gloucester people to leave home a little after tea, set 
their nets oft" Kettle Island, and lie there till about midnight. They 
would then haul their nets, pick out the fish, and start off to the mack- 
erel grounds.* 

There can be no question that the custom of chopping up small 
mackerel for bait was detrimental to the mackerel fishery in succeeding 
years, and that the introduction of menhaden was a benefit to the fishery 
in more ways than one. As a "toll" bait for the mackerel, menhaden 
is believed to be better than any other fish ; the mackerel seem to prefer 
it; and the presence in its flesh of a quantity of oil renders it especially 
convenient for the use of fishermen, since in the process of " chummiug- 
up," presently to be described, a small quantity of ground menhaden 
bait will spread over a large area of water. In the Eeport of the Com- 
missioner of Fisheries, Part Y, j)]). 143 to 147, may be found a discussion 
of the comj)arative merits of herring and menhaden as a bait for 
ma(jkerel. 

The quantity of menhaden bait carried by a mackerel schooner on a 
trip of two and a half to three months to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence 
varies, according to the size of the vessel, from 25 to 40 barrels. In 
addition to this they were accustomed to carry 5 to 10 barrels of clams. 
Capt. Sylvanus Smith, of Gloucester, stated to the Halifax Commis- 
sion that a vessel fitting out for a four months' trip to the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence would need to be supplied with 40 barrels of x)Ogie bait, worth 

*Mr. Eaill writes: " Daniel Cameron, of Southport, states that pogies were first 
used in Maine abont 1844, and by 1846 bad come into general use. People of tliis sec- 
tion claim to have introduced the pogy, Brcxoortia tiirimnun, as mackerel bair, but wltli 
whom the practice originated I was unable to learn." 



[89] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

$6 a barrel, making $240, and 10 barrels of clam bait, worth $8 a barrel, 
making $Sl)* 

Major Low's statement, copied from the trip-book of the schooner 
Oliver Eldredge, v/hich sailed to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence Angnst 5, 
1875, arrived at Gloucester Neve mber 2, 1875, having been absent two 
months and twenty-eight days, obtaining 224 barrels of mess mackerel, 
worth $1,771.83, shows that she fitted oat with 55 barrels of slivered 
pogies, at $ i.50 per barrel, making $337.50, and 7 barrels of clams, at 
$y, making $42. 

In 1867, wlien almost the entire mackerel fleet flstied with hooks, the 
amount of menhaden bait consumed by Gloucester alone amounted, by 
the estimate of Mr. Joseph O. Proctor, to 0,500 barrels, and the total 
consumption by the United States of mackerel bait must have exceeded 
25,000 barrels. In addition to this more than 1,000 barrels of clams 
were used. In 1877 another estimate was made of the quantity con- 
sumed by Gloucester. The purse-seiners were then in a large majority. 
The whole amount consumed by a seining vessel does not exceed 5 or 6 
barrels in a season. Gloucester had, in 1877, about 50 " mackerel-hook 
ers," using about 2,400 barrels of slivers, while the seining fleet used 
about 600 iiarrels more. The entire amount of menhaden bait consumed 
by the mackerel fleet of the United States in 1877 did not probably ex- 
ceed 8,000 to 9,000 barrels of slivers, or 24,000 to 27,000 barrels of round 
fish. 

The menhaden used for bait in the mackerel fisheries was formerly, 
when a larger quantity was in demand than at present, obtained to a 
considerable extent from Gloucester vessels fishing expressly for men- 
haden in the vicinity of Cape Ann and in the Gulf of Maine. 

Capt. F. J. Babson, of Gloucester, whose account of the bait fishery of 
Cape Ann is quoted elsewhere, states that in 1873 there were over 60,000 
barrels of round menhaden taken in his district, while in the same year 
vessels belonging to the Maine Oil and Guano Association sokl of bait 
2,977 barrels; in 1874, 10,400; in 1877, 10,795. From the bait fisheries 
about Marblehead and in the vicinity of Provincetown, according to Mr. 
Lowry, from 1,000 to 2,000 barrels of bait were taken in 1873. At 
Chatham, from 1872 to 1877, the average catch was about 5,000 barrels. 
A large portion of all of these fish, however, was sold to the vessels en- 
gaged in the George's Bank cod-fishery. Considerable quantities also 
were obtained about Salem and in the Merrimac Eiver, a portion of 
which went to the mackerel fishery. 

It was the custom of many of the vessels belonging to the spring 
mackerel fleet to devote a considerable time to obtaining a supply of 
bait for their own use during the summer fishery. In addition to this 
quite a number of vessels were fitted oat each spring to go to Seacon- 
net and other i)laces in that vicinity for the pnrpose of securing cargoes 
of menhaden slivers to sell to the early fleet going to the Bay of Saint 
* Proceedings of the Halifax CommissioUj 1877, Appendix L, p. 3ii4. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [90] 

Lawrence. Cape Cod vessels were accustomed to dress their bait in a 
peculiar manner. They did not sliver them iii the ordinary way. but 
salted them down "round," simply eviscerating them, catting off the 
heads and the thin parts of the belly, and making slits in the sides. 

These vessels obtained their bait from the pound fishermen at various 
points on the coast of southern IsTew England, especially in the vicinity 
of Seaconnet and Rhode Island, and also from the various fishing gangs 
connected ^vith the oil and guano factories. 

In addition to the vessels which thus obtained supplies of bait for 
their own use, there was a fleet of bait vessels which annually proceeded 
to the same localities in the spring to obtain bait for sale to the vessels 
of the mackerel fleet not otherwise supplied. The number of baiters 
was five or six. 

The price of menhaden for bait varied with their abundance. In 
Gloucester, in 1873, according to Captain Babson, 60,000 barrels of 
round fish made 20,000 barrels of slivers, worth $4 a barrel to the 
producer. At Marblehead the price in 1876 averaged |1 for fresh and 
$6 for salt bait; at Chatham, $1.50 fresh; at ISTan tucket, 50 to 75 cents; 
and at Martha's Vineyard, 50 cents. In Narragansett Bay bait sold in 
1871 for |1 to $1.50 per barrel, fresh. The regular price from 1867 to 
1877 at the mouth of the Merrimac Eiver was $1 per barrel; probably 
1,000 barrels of slivered fish were prepared in 1876, which sold for $5 a 
barrel. Boston and Gloucester vessels were accustomed to anchor at 
the mouth of the river and wait there for supplies of bait. At one time 
in 1877 there were ijrobably 25 schooners waiting. 

The process of slivering and salting menhaden was described in the 
report on the menhaden fisheries in Part V. 

The manner of jireparing the slivered menhaden or other fish for toll 
bait is very simple, and is essentially the same as that employed in early 
days, when it was the custom to grind up small mackerel for bait. Cap- 
tain Atwood remarked in his testimony before the fishery commission 
at Halifax: "We now use menhaden for bait, but when I first went 
fishing we did not do so; our practice then was to grind up small mack- 
erel for the purpose. Any quantity of these mackerel were at that 
time to be had for the cost, and plenty are to be met there now. These 
fish were of no account then, and so we ground them up for bait. And 
when we could not obtain them we ground up what you call gurry, the 
inwards < f fish with the gills attached. American fishermen, when rhey 
fish with hooks, use menhaden bait almost exclusively. The superiority 
of this over any other is proved by the fact that when they can't get 
menhaden they Avon't take any other. At first mackerel fishermen were 
afraid of this bait; it was a very bony fish, and they even thought that 
if it was cut up for bait the mackerel would get sick of it owing to the 
number of bones. There is a species of fish belonging to this family 
found on our coast which is exceedingly fat; we call them blue-backed 



[91] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

herrings;* and some prefer this fish for bait, as it is not so bony as 
menhaden, but when the mackerel got to be worth having-, about every- 
body adopted menhaden for bait; it is the cheapest bait."t 

To prepare meuliaden for use in the mackerel fishery, the slivers are 
ground uj) into a mush which is called "ground bait.^' The slivers are 
passed through a bait-mill, which is a machine somewhat resembling a 
farmer's feed cutter. The fish are thrown into the hopper, and, by the 
agency of a roller operated by a crank at the side of the mill, are passed 
through a complicated array of sharp knives arranged upon the sides 
of the mill, and in spiral rows upon the roller. The bait is usually 
ground at night by the watch on deck. As a rule the bait is run through 
the mill twice in order to make it fine enough. When the vessel has no 
bait- mill, which at i>resent is rarely the case, the fish are cut up with 
a hatchet or scalded with boiling- warer in a tub. Bait-mills were first 
introduced about the year 182.'. Prior to the introduction of the bait- 
mill all the bait was cut up at night with the hatchet, by the watch, upon 
a chopping-block, which was a large flat-topped piece of wood resembling 
a butcher's meat-block. The veterans of this fishery relate with great 
glee how they used to be kept aw^ake all night by the pounding of the 
bait-cutter over their heads, and contrast the present usages with those 
of former days. When there was leisure in the day-time, three or four 
men would work at the block together, each chopping with his own 
hatchet. In this way a constant supj)ly was kept. Bait which had 
been ground was packed in barrels full of pickle, and covered up. 

The earlier bait-mills w<?re very rude affairs, the teeth being common 
nails driven into the barrel and into the sides of the mill and broken 
off, leaving jagged ends which tore the bait into pieces. Later these 
were filed down to a point, while at the present time the teeth are arrow- 
shaped, made of steel, and are attached to the wood by means of shanks 
made especially for the purpose. Bait-mills are now manufactured by 
various mechanics at the different ports, those made by Adolph Voss, 
of Gloucester, being considered among the best. The cost of a good 
bait-mill is from $8 to $15. 

According to Maj. D. W. Low, the first bait-mill was made in 1820, of 
nails driven in lines across two wooden cylinders and then sharpened. 
The first one made for grinding or cutting with knives was made in 
1822 by Gorham Burnham, and they were driven into cylinders in the 
same manner. In 1823 he commenced putting in the knives in spiral 
form, which form has continued in use ever since. He has made and 
sold in one year 1 1,600 worth at $10 each, besides making anchors and 
other work. 

The first bait-mill taken to southern Maine was bought in Gloucester 

*Tlie Chtpea cestivalis. 

tN. E. At wood, Proceedings of the Halifax Commissiou, Appendix L, p. 42, Septem- 
ber 19, 1877. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [92] 

in 1827 by Mr. John Oamerou, of Smitliport, for use on the schooner 
Echo.* 

The manner in which the labor of grinding bait was distribated 
among the different members of the crew after bait-mills came into 
general use varied upon different vessels. Sometimes each man had 
his " bait day," upon which, in addition to his regular labor of fishing, 
he was expected to grind bait for the use of the vessel. 

When fish were abundant the quantity used might be as great as five 
or six barrels a day. The bait-cutter w^as expected to have a supply of 
bait ready, and when there was promise of good fishing the next day 
would grind what he thought would be needed for the next day's fishing 
during his watch at night. When he w^as not forehanded and the fish 
were abundant he suffered considerable loss, since he was obliged to 
work at grinding the bait while the others were fishing, and thus failed 
to obtain his share of the fish. 

On some vessels, in order to obviate this difficulty, it was customarj^ 
for each man to grind a barrel in his turn, the boys doing their share of 
the work by cattiug the clam bait. The order of their succession was 
determined bj^ their position at the vessel's rail, the man farthest for- 
ward taking the first turn. On other vessels, if a man was not on deck 
in the morning to help hoist the sails, the penalty for his absence was 
the grinding of a barrel of bait, a task which required about an hour 
and a half for its performance. 

When the bait has been ground it is placed in barrels or in the bait 
chests. The ground bait is an oily mass of yellowish color, resembling 
in consistency sausage meat. Before it is used water is added to it, 
and it- is then reduced to the consistency of porridge. It now becomes 
a yellowish slushy liquid with an oily smell, and in this condition occu- 
pies about twice to three times the space that it did before water w^as 
added. In this condition it is sometimes called ''chum" or "stosh." 

(/.) Mode of fishing . — The present method employed by mackerel 
schooners of fishing with hook and line while the schooner lies adrift 
was first practiced in Massachusetts at the ver^" beginning of the pres- 
ent century, and the use of toll bait began about the same time. Ac- 
cording to Capt. Epes W. Merchant, the first man to introduce this 
method of fishing in Massachusetts Bay was John Story, of Eo<!kport, 
about the year 1804. 

The method of " tolling" or "chumming up "the fish by the use of 
this ground bait resembles the process of calling up a flock of fowls by 
scattering corn over a large piece of ground. The oily bait is thrown 
over the side of the vessel, and as the latter drifts along and the bait 
spreads the fish are attracted by the floating ])articles most remote from 
the vessel, and swim up toward the source of supply. 

The use of toll bait originated with the shore fishermen, who crushed 

* State neut of Daniel Cameron and Capt. John Gray, of Soutlaport, Me., obtauied 
by R. E, Earll. 



[93] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

the oily meuliadeii under foot with their heavy fishing boots, wasliing 
the pulpy mass of llesli and tlie oil with buckets of water out through 
the scuppers of the vessel. Another statement, and perhaps the most 
correct one, is that at first the fishermen made toll bait by boiling a cod- 
fish or haddock until it was nearly cooked, when it was taken by the 
tail and beaten over the sides of the boat or vessel, causing the fibers 
of the fish to separate in small pieces, which, considering their white- 
ness, made a ver\- attractive bait. This practice was still in vogue 
among the boat fishermen of Maine as late as 1849 and 1850. 

The process of throwing toll bait, of late in practice, may now be de- 
scribed. Several buckets of the ground bait are put into the boxes, 
the positions of which have already been described, and to it several 
buckets of water arc added, the mass being thus reduced to a proper 
consistency by stirring it up with the bait heavers, which are scoop- 
shaped contrivances made of tin on the ends of wooden handles 2 or 
3 feet in length. The vessel is " hove to" under mainsail and foresail, 
or sometimes under mainsail, making a square drift to leeward. One 
man — generally the skipper — stands forward of the main rigging with 
the bait-heaver and throws out the bait, something in tl'e manner of a 
man sowing seed broadcast, by a sweeping motion of his right arm, 
scattering it over a space of 15 or 20 feet along the side of the vessel. 
The oily i)article8 slowly sink and spread out under the influence of the 
whirling eddies caused by the receding vessel. As the vessel drifts 
away and one scattering of bait is on the point of disappearing from 
sight, another lot is thrown, and so a succession of waves of bait is left 
in the wake of the vessel. In the mean time the man who is throwing 
the bait puts out two lines and thus ascertains w^hether the mackerel 
have been attracted to the sides. As soon as the fish begin to bite, the 
man sings out, "Here they are!" or "Here they gnaw!" and the crew 
rush to their places and begin fishing. 

When the fish appear, they are sometimes in small numbers and bite 
daiutily, but often they come in immense schools and bite as fast as the 
hooks touch the water.* 

* ''Jigging maclcercl."—' 'Jigging mackerel" is a method peculinr to mackerel-catch- 
ers that superseded the old way called "trailing," or taking them while the vessel was 
under headway. The manner of jigging is peculiarly interesting to new beholders. 
The vessel is kept comparatively motionless; alargequantitvof poor mackerel chopped 
into mince-meat is thrown upon the Avater, which brings them to the surface. So 
much of this has been done that it has, in a great measure, destroyed their appetites, 
and sharp-pointed hooks of a sufiScient length to reach the fish have been resorted to. 

A line of the color of the water, called the jig line, attached to a lead of a finger's 
length, say one-half inch in diameter, diminished at the end towards rheliook which 
is solid in the lead called a "jig lead." Rait of such as is thrown overboard is put on 
the hook and thrown also among the " tloating T>ait," or more properly the floating fish. 
Thus iircpared, the fisherman has little else to do but to draw in the line and snap off 
the fish in a tub prepared for that pni'pose a little faster than can be easily imagined 
by the land fisherman. From .50 to 80 barrels have often been taken on a good "fish- 
ing day" in this way by a crew of 6 or 8 hands; oftentimes several boys comprise a 
portion of the company.— (Barnstable Patriot, Nov. 15, 1836.) 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [94] 

On tbese occasions tbe deck of the vessel presents a scene of great 
activity and excitement. 

Let us tr}^ to depict a scene in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. We are 
on the deck of a clipper schooner from Gloucester, standing along with 
the four lower sails and the main gaff- topsail set, a fresh breeze blowing 
from the southwest; the sky is overcast, and the sea comj)aratively 
smooth; within the plane of vision are the wliite sails of some 250 
schooners, most of which are hove to, a few tearing along under press 
of sail seeking new positions; here and there among the fleet is a vessel 
with a flag set at her main x>eak or at her main topmast head; this is 
to indicate that she has completed her fare and is homeward bound. 
Some of these are lying to, and are still fishing, while others have all 
sail set, and are heading for the Strait of Can so on their homeward 
way. A few miles to the northeast looms up the rugged shore of the 
Magdalen Islands, its high outline here and there broken by long- 
stretches of gandy beach; a train of great white gannets crosses our 
bow, five or sii^ of them rapidly flying close to the water; suddenly the 
leader disappears beneath the water, and his companions rise up for a 
moment and then "plug down" head foremost after the fish which they 
see. The movement is perceived by other gannets, and they flock in 
from all directions and share the feast. As we speed along two or three 
of these birds, which have filled themselves to repletion, are swimming in 
our course, unable to rise, and, in order to escape, they disgorge their 
stomach-loads of fish and flap away just before the vessel leaches 
them. We now approach the fleet, and pass by the leeward vessels 
which are hove to, the starboard rails of which are lined with men ex- 
citedly plying their lines. Our skipper stands on the quarter with bis 
glass to his eye, trying to determine which portion of the fleet is meet- 
ing with the best success. He selects a berth near the middle of the fleet, 
and thither he directs the course of the vessel by word to the steers- 
man. We thread our way in a zigzag course among the drifting ves- 
sels, sometimes escaping by a few inches only the thrust of a jib-boom, 
and again almost sna])ping off the main-boom of some other vessel. At 
length we approach the selected position and lieavc to, coming up 
sharply to the wind with the mainsail hard aback. The skijiper takes 
his position at the main rigging and begins throwing bait, at the same 
time putting out his lines for trial. After the vessel is hove to, the 
men are lounging about the deck, yet in expectant attitudes. At a 
little distance from the rail stands a row of barrels, one op])ositc the 
berth of each man. These are called "strike'' barrels. The lines, with 
the jigs attached, are coiled upon the cleats or lie upon the rails, each 
man having examined his own and preparefl it for immediate use. At 
last the skipper is seen to rapidly haul in his line, pulling a glittering 
mackerel over the rail, and, by tlie peculiar motion known to the fisher- 
men as "slatting off," the fish is jerked over his light shoulder into 
the barrel^ while the drumming of the mackerel against the bottom of 



[95] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

tlie barrel announces to the men that the fish have struck. The men 
rusli to their positions, and a scene of great activity and excitement 
begins. The fish are now within four or five fathoms of the side of the 
vessel, but they soon come much nearer; looking over the rail we see 
their mottled backs as they swim to and fro alongside the vessel. 
The lines are shortened np as the mackerel rise, and now the time re- 
quired for throwing over the jig and jerking it back with a mackerel 
fast to it is only a few seconds. The men throw out their lines, pnll 
them in, and, without glancing at the fish, dexterously "slat" them into 
the barrels, the j'gs being torn out of their mouths by the same motion 
which casts the line back into the water; two twists of the wrist are 
suificient to accomplish this feat. The mackerel are large — ''No. I's" — 
and in fifteen or twenty minutes the best fishermen have their barrels 
full. When a man's barrel is filled he springs from" the rail, rolls it back 
towards the center of the deck, and puts an empty barrel in its place. 
The fish may continue actively biting for ten minutes or for several 
hours, but usually the sharp biting is over very soon, and the mackerel 
begin to "pick." Now the work is less exciting, though much more ex- 
acting npon the skill of the fishermen. When the fish are "picking," 
a high-line fisherman will catch quantities, and the greenhorn will catch 
none, and even among the most skillful fishermen there is a great dif- 
ference in their success at this time. 

It should be stated that all the time mackerel have been biting, four 
men have been actively employed in throwing bait over the side, at the 
same time attending to their lines like the remainder of the crew. The 
cook heaves bait in the position farthest forward, and one of the boys 
in the position farthest aft, while am.dships the skipper and one of the 
most experienced of the crew are similarly engaged.* 

When the fish begin to "pick," the skipper reconnoiters for a tetter 
position, and finding that other vessels are having good fishing, orders 
the crew to coil in their lines and to make sail; away we go in search of 
another " spurt of mackerel." 

The excitement among the crew, when the mackerel are biting fast, 
can hardly be described. When the fishing begins, the drumming of 
the mackerel in the empty barrels is inexpressibly cheering to the fish- 
ermen, especially if they have been unsuccessfully hunting for fish on 
previous days, and adds to their excitement. This sound ceases as the 
barrels begin to fill up, the resonance of the wood being deadened by 
the accumulation of fish ; it is, however, from time to time repeated, as 
emx)ty barrels are substituted for those which have been filled. Every 
man is striving to the top of his bent to catch as many mackerel as pos- 
sible while the "spurt" continues, and, if possible, to catch a larger 

* Ou the mackerel "hookers" the cook stood to lish just aft of the forerigging. The 
large schooners sometimes had a boy forward of the forerigging, but this was not the 
rule by any means. Each man or boy had a certain number of inches measured ou 
the rail and assigned him as his berth. The length of a berth at the rail varied from 
2i to 3 feet. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [96] 

sliare than any of his comrades. The emulation to be " high-line" for the 
day and for the season, is extreme. The number of barrels caught by 
each man is carefully noted, for upon his relative success depends his 
proportion of the proceeds of the voyage and his reputation as a fish- 
erman. In a single day a high-line fisherman has caught from 10 to 15 
barrels, and siuce each barrel contains from 150 to 200 mackerel, the 
rapidity of the men's movements throughout the day may be efc^timated. 
In seven or eight hourts' fishing he has i^robably lifted over the side 2,000 
to 3,000 fisb, to say nothing of throwing over his jig and bringing it back 
empty almost as many times more. Such cases as this are exceptional, 
since mackerel rarely continue biting long. enough to allow such a num- 
ber to be taken. At the same time, when a much smaller number is 
caught, the activity of the fishermen is something to be wondered at.* 

The confusion and excitement is increased by the frequent snarling 
of the lines and the attempts to straighten them out again. As has 
been stated, each expert fisherman has ten or twelve lines in his berth, 
and changes from one to the other according to the rapidity with which 
the fish are biting, or the strength of the wind. Much experience and 
skill are necessary to enable the fishermen to make these changes un- 
derstandingly. Little is said while the fishing is going on; the men 
lean far over the rail in strange attitudes of expectancy with one or two 
lines in each hand, the hands moving up and down and constantly haul- 
ing in and throwing out one of the lines at a time. When it is neces- 
sary to haul in one of the lines, the others are allowed to drop upon the 
rail. 

We have described one phase of the life of a mackerel fisherman, but 
experiences like this may occur only a few times during a season. 
Mackerel vessels are constantly under sail, cruising hither and thither 
over great areas of water on the lookout for fish, heaving to and trying- 
more frequently without than with success, except in extraordinary 
seasons. At night they are hove to, or, when mackerel are scarce, are 
making long i>assages from one ground to another. Information as to 
the location of the schools of mackerel is passed from vessel to vessel. 
As they meet, the vessels almost invariably speak each other and com- 
j)are notes upon the position and abundance of fish. 

When a A^essel is seeking fish and heaves to for the puri)ose of toll- 
ing them u]), she will continue in this position, as a rule, for about an 
hour, sometimes longer, when there is any prospect of success. Some- 
times the mackerel, however abundant, will not rise to bait; they are 
very capricious; at other times in the same day they will be exceed- 
ingly voracious. One of the common tactics of the mackerel fishermen 
was that of running round a school; when the fish could be seen, the 
vessel would make a complete circle, surrounding them at the same 

* Large catch of mackerel. — Schooner "Bloomer," of Iii.agh;im, rritli a crew of 10 
men, caught ou Thursday last, between 10 a. m. and 2 p. m., 5,700 mackerel with the 
hook and line. —(Barnstable Patriot, May 2», 1881.) 



[97] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

time with tlie line of toll bait. The effect of this maneuver was to keep 
the fish from moving away by [)lacing the bait in such a manner that 
whichever course they took the fish must invariably meet with and bo 
attracted by it to the vessePs side. It frequently hai)pened, however, 
that the schooling fish took no notice whatever of the toll -bait, either 
because they were not hungry, or were engaged in feeding upon some 
form of Crustacea, of which they are exceedingly fond. 

The practice of "lee-bowing," the method of which, so far as the 
management of the vessel is concerned, has been described in another 
place, was simplyto "heave to"to the leeward of another vessel which was 
lying to and had a school of fish alongside, and, while so doing, to throw 
a quantity of bait overboard ; this bait passing under the bottom of the 
first vessel would attract the fish, which would then follow the course of 
the new bait, passing to leeward under the first vessel and appearing 
alongside and close to the vessel which was executing the maneuver 
of lee-bowing. The success of this maneuver is sometimes thwarted 
by the crew of the first vessel throwing over such a quantity of bait 
that the bait thrown by the second vessel is not noticed by the fish. In 
this act it is frequently the custom to use a considerable quantity of 
chopped clams, these being considered better to "hold" the fish along- 
side than the menhaden bait. The clam bait is also used on other 
occasions to "hold" the fish, or induce them to bite more rapidly when 
they are supposed to be tired of the ordinary bait. 

A maneuver sometimes executed by the mackerel schooner is called 
" springing up." This is done when the mackerel are so close to the 
shore that the vessel cannot lie to and drift for them. It is accom- 
plished by bringing the vessel to anchor and then putting a " spring" 
on the cable, the latter, which is a stout rope, being taken to the port- 
quarter, and the cable veered out so that the vessel lies with her port 
side to the wind. The fishing is then carried on on the starboard side, 
in the same manner as with vessels lying ^o. 

In former years, when an extensive mackerel fishery was prosecuted 
in the vicinity of the Seven Islands and at the mouth of the Saint Law- 
rence River, much jig fishing was ^carried on by small boats sent out 
from the vessels. Each of the boats carried a small quantity of ground 
bait, which was used in the same manner, as on the vessels. This 
method of fishing has also been practiced to some extent on the coast 
of Maine even as late as 1879. 

Vessels occasionally returned home from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence 
to land their catch, leaving a portion of their crew to fish from small 
boats until their return.* 

The above description of jigging mackerel has been written with 

* Schooner " B. D. Haskins " lately arrived from Bay Saint Lawrence with mackerel ; 
left five of her crew to continue the fishery in dories until her return on her second 
trip.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 17, 1860.) Instances of this kind were rare. — 
Authors. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [98] 

special reference to the fishery in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, since it 

was here that the jig fishing was most extensively prosecuted; the 

methods are the same, however, as those practiced on the New England 

coast. 

26. — Care of the fish. 

{a.) Cleaning and salting. — The manner of caring for the fish is essen- 
tially the same as that described in the preceding chapter, except that 
(the quantity of fish taken being much smaller, there was, of course^ 
much more time for handling them) greater care was taken, and the 
fish were uniformly of better quality. Many of the Gloucester mack- 
erel-hookers were accustomed to divide their crew into dressing gangs 
of two each instead of three, as at the present time on the seining ves- 
sels, one of these men splitting and the other gibbing. It was the duty 
of the splitter to get the barrels, fill them with water, and, when he 
had split more fish than the gibber could take care of, to aid the latter 
in his work.* 

On the seining vessel, as we have seen, the mackerel are, in most 
cases, heaped on the deck; on the mackerel-hookers, the fish were 
already in barrels, and the order of proceeding was slightly diiferent. 
The splitting-board was placed on the head of one of the "strike" bar- 
rels; the fish were taken out of the barrels, split, and thrown into the 
gib tub, where they were handled in the ordinary manner. The pro- 
cess of gibbing having been completed, the fish were "plowed" and 
put into the second barrel, which was filled with clean water. From 
this barrel they were changed into the barrel in which they were salted. 
The process of salting is as follows: A barrel of mackerel is emptied 
out on deck; a "gib-keeler" is filled with salt; one of the men now 
throws the mackerel into the "gib-keeler," while the other man "rubs" 
them in the salt by taking one in each hand; the back of one is then 
placed to the flesh of the other, and they are thrown into the barrel 
with the flesh side down. They are thus salted and packed away into 
barrels in successive layers, each (with the exception of the bottom 
tier) with the flesh side down.t A barrel of large mackerel can be 
salted in from five to ten minutes. 

In order to cure mackerel successfully very fine salt must be usedy 
and every part of the fish must be touched or it will spoil. | Careless 

* The most general cnstom, perhaps, on the Gloucester vessels was to have two men 
in a gang, though this was varied a good deal on different schooners. Some crews 
preferred dress gangs of three men each, while others sometimes had four men work- 
ing together, one of them "passing up" the mackerel to the splitter. 

+ The early method of packing them flesh up has been abandoned. 

tThis is the case when the mackerel are ''rubbed," Liverpool salt being almost 
wholly used, since Cadiz salt, owing to its coarseness, has a tendency to tear or 
"ruck up" the flesh of the fish and give them a ragged appearance. Many of the 
Cape Cod fishermen, however, preferred to use Cadiz salt, believing it to bo better for 
curing the fish than Liverpool. Their manner of applying it was quite diiferent from 
tliat which has been described. Each man salted his own catch. Placing a wash- 



[99j HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

salters sometimes leave "tliumbmarks" where tlieir thumbs touch the 
fiyh during the process of saltiug, preventing the access of the salt. 
These do not keep well. 

It was customary on the "hookers" to let the mackerel remain on 
deck for several days after being salted, -the length of time varying to 
a considerable extent, as it depended very much on the amount of fish 
taken. When the mackerel were well struck, or after they had been 
salted from two to five or six days, the barrels were "topped up" with 
fish, to make uj) for the shrinkage from the first salting, after whith. 
they were carefully headed up and stowed in the hold. If the men kept 
their catch separate, each one cut a x>rivate mark on the head of the 
barrel containing his fish. As a rule, the mackerel were " stowed down" 
wlieuever 40 or 50 barrels had accumulated on deck, but when fish were 
abundant and took the hook freely for several days in succession it; 
often happened that more than a hundred barrels of fish would be 
caught before any were put below. 

Capt. Epes W. Merchant, of Gloucester, informs us that the practice 
of salting mackerel was inaugurated at Gloucester in 1818. Scituate 
fishermen had begun this practice somewhat earlier. The methods of 
saltiug have not materially changed since that time. Previous to 1850 
the vessels engaged in mackerel fishing were generally accustomed to 
carry butts, in which the fish were salted. 

Capt. Chester Marr tells us that in the early days the mackerel fisher- 
men made a practice of salting the mackerel in hogsheads, which were- 
placed in the hold, standing on end, with stone ballast stowed in the 
"spaces" between them. When a vessel was loaded she would hold 
about 10 butts, or about 50 " wash-barrels." These butts were used until 
about 1850. 

barrel of mackerel at Ms left hand, an empty barrel in front of Mm, andwitb a bucket 
or basket of salt at his right, the fisherman rapidly transferred the fresh fish into the 
proper barrel, placing each flesh up, and scattering over it with the right hand a 
sufficient quantity of salt. An expert can thus take care of many more fish than 
any one unacquainted with the method would believe possible, though, it is safe to 
say, mackerel can be handled more expeditiously by the process of rubbing, and for 
this reason the Cape Cod style of salting has never come into favor at Cape Ann and. 
on the coast of Maine. 

* The largest of the mackerel schooners had sufficient capacity for stowing 20 or 25 
butts, besides a number of barrels alongside of them in the wings on each side of the 
hold. 

When salting mackerel in these casks, the salters worked in the hold. A gib tub was 
filled with salt and set on top of the butts near the hatchway, and one man threw 
down the mackerel from the deck into the salt box (or gib tub) while two others 
standing alongside of the butts did the salting — one "rubbing" the fish and the other 
packing them away in the proper place. When the cask was full a large stone was 
placed on top of the fish to keep them beneath the brine so that they would not get 
rusty. Each man usually had a hogshead of his own for the reception of his fish ; that 
is, if each of the crew kept his catch separate. At that time, however, it was quite 
generally the custom to "go on shares." This term, as then understood, difiered radi- 
cally from what is now meant by the same expression, and may be described as fol- 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIOXER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [100] 

(b.) Mackerel ploics. — The mackerel plows^ to which frequent allusion. 
lias been made, are also known to the fishermen by several other names, 
such as rimmers, reamers, fatters, and fatting-knives, in the same and 
in different localities. The original object of using these instruments 
may be said to have been " a trick in the trade," although the fact of 
their being employed at the present time is so well known that no one 
considers it any longer a secret, neither has it been for many years. 
The quality of mackerel is determined not only by their size, but also 
by 'the richness or fatness which they acquire as the season advances, 
and the opportunities for obtaining food are better than during the 
spring. In the spring when they approach the coasts of the Middle 
States and Southern 'New England they are in a poor and lean con- 
dition and remain in such a state until after they have deposited their 
spawn. After the spawning-season is over the schools then seek their 
favorite feeding-grounds and the fish soon begin to exhibit much im- 
provement in their condition. During the month of June this improve- 
ment is first noticeable, and by the last of August, and sometimes even 
at an earlier date, the mackerel have arrived at their finest condition and 
remain so until they Leave the coast in the fall. As the fish fatten, the 
belly, or that portion which covers the abdominal cavity, increases in 
thickness, and the quality of the mackerel can be more easily and cer- 
tainly determined by noticing this particular portion of it than in any 
other manner. The mackerel are invariably sijlit along the back from 
the snout to the tail in such a manner that they will lay open and 
flat after the viscera has been removed. It is a fact well known to per- 
sons familiar with this fish that when they are in a fat condition the 
sides of the abdominal cavity will crack open along the entire length 
when the fish are opened for the purpose of removing the viscera. The 
depth of these cracks or "breaks" show the relative fatness of the fish. 
As these cracks occur about half way from the backbone to the center 
of the abdominal cavity, it will be readily seen that by using an imple- 
ment for making the crack a little above or nearer to the backbone than 
where it would naturally be and where the belly is considerably thicker, 

>^ow8: The crew were shipped as much upon their merits of good seamanship and 
steady habits as for their skill as fishermen. Each man was j^rovided with a "strike 
tub"— a half hogshead — and for the first few days' fishing the skipper would note the 
catch of each of the men, and from this comparison would decide what share every 
one should receive. Thiis some. half dozen, perhaps, in a crew of 12 or 14 men would 
be assigned a full share. Though there might be some difi^erence in the relative catch 
of these men it was thought fair to consider a ca;^able and reliable man a full shares- 
man, though he caught somewhat less fish than another who might not be so well 
experienced in other matters. The remainder of the men were allowed three-fourths 
-or one-half of a share, as the case might be, their expertness in catching fish and 
vother qualifications always being taken into account in settling their relative standing. * 
Thus, if a \essel had a crew of twelve men, six of whom were full sharesmen, four 
three-quarter sharesmen, and two half sharesmen, there would be ten full shares, and 
.•a sharesman would receive one-tenth of the crew's half of the proceeds of the voyage, 
while those having a smaller "lay" would be paid accordingly. 



[101] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

it will give the fish the appearance of being much fatter than it really 
is. As previously stated, the depth of the "break" is the test of the 
fatness of the fish, and is the guide by which the inspectors cull them 
into the different grades for market, provided always that they are of 
suitable size. Stringent laws have in i)ast years been enacted in most 
of the IN^ew England States to regulate the method of insx)ecting mack- 
erel, and the use of any artificial means to fatten them was for many 
years strictly prohibited. The introduction of the mackerel plow, like 
that of many other inventions, was the direct result of a need long felt 
by fishermen. Previous to its adoption it was the custom for the fisher- 
men to attempt to improve the looks of their fish by increasing the nat- 
ural break with their thumb-nails drawn along its entire length. This 
method was called " rubbing the mackerel." Later a few began to use 
the back of the point of their bait-knives or splitting-knives for this pur- 
pose, by degrees venturing to place the cut a little higher than where it 
naturally belonged. The use of knives led to the introduction of plows, 
which soon came into general use, though the fishermen at first felt some 
hesitation about revealing the fact that their fish had been plowed.* 

A comiDaratively poor mackerel would not open sufficiently in a 
natural way to pass for a ISo. 2, but the fishermen give them an invit- 
ing appearance to the buyer by the use of the plow, which they handle 
with remarkable dexterity, running the blade longitudinally along each 
side of the abdominal cavity with great rapidity, laying the sides of 
the fish open in such a manner that it may pass for a No. 2, and, per- 
ha])s, if it is of large size, a fairly fat fish may be culled as a No. 1 mack- 
erel. It is but fair to say here that, since the general adoption of the 
mackerel i^low as a means of "fattening" the fish, the subject is so 
well understood by the dealers that they demand a finer looking fish 
than formerly, and the consumer, therefore, actually gets as good an 
article as before, and one that is much more attractive. This is espe- 
cially the case when the size of the mackerel is not sufficient to pass for 
the best quality, or oSTo. 1. A fish whose length is 13 inches and " of 

* From a circular addressed to the masters and crews of mackerel vessels by Hon. 
James Barry, inspector-general of pickled fish for Massachusetts, dated May 2, 1832, 
we quote the foUowiog in relation to tlie use of the mackerel plow: " It is a mis- 
chievous error that fishermen have fallen into by salting their fish too slack, as has, 
been often the case ; and another by using the plow, which has given to the fish a false 
appearance, and has been a source of mortification to the fishermen, and they have in 
a great many instances found fa.ult with the inspectors when the fault belonged to 
themselves in not taking care of the fish which it was their duty to do, and which in 
many cases has been a ruinous business to purchasers. By a law of the common- 
wealth the inspector is required to throw into an inferior quality all mackerel which 
have been plowed, cut, or mutilated for the purpose of deception. It can be of no 
advantage to the fishermen, and I trust will never again be done." 

Capt. N. E. Atwood says that some of the fishermen made mackerel plows with 
"the ends tipped with x'^wter and fine teeth on the edges so as to make the crease^ 
look rough, as though it was broken naturally ; others had a koife in the end which 
cut them [the mackerel] smoothly." 



KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [102j 

suitable fatness" is required for a No. 1, but it is easy to see that a fish 
of fine quality, though not exceeding 12 or 12^ inches, is just as good 
for food, notwithstanding the fact that it must pass for a lower grade 
and be sold for a much less price. For the past few years a very large 
portion of the mackerel caught on our coast have been "undersized," 
that is, not long enough to pass for the best quality, according to the 
inspection laws of New England; nevertheless they are in all respects 
quite as good as the larger and rarer grades. 

As previously stated, the fishermen no longer make a secret of using 
the plow, and during the summer season, when the wharves on the 
eastern coast are filled with mackerel, the operators may be seen in the 
©pen air busily rimming the fish almost as fast as they can ijick them 
up and throw them into another barrel. There are many styles of 
this type of knife, their patterns and designs being as varied as the 
fancies of those who make them. They are, with but few exceptions, 
:made by the fishermen ; some of them are exceedingly j^lain and rough, 
while others are artistically and elaborately decorated, often with 
imaginary uncouth figures or with fancifully carved leaves, wreaths, &c. 

There are several knives of this character deposited in the fisheries 
collection of the United States National Museum, and among them is 
one factory made rimmer, with a i)olished walnut handle and a curved 
iron shank about one-quarter inch in diameter ; into the forward end of 
the shank is fitted a small cutting blade about IJ inches in length, 
tapering to a point at the heel, and with a square-cut forward end. 
There are also other styles made by the fishermen, some having steel 
and others having copper blades, and one specimen made of wood, in 
the form of a human leg, the extreme end terminating in a thick-set 
flat foot, in the bottom of which is inserted or driven a silver three-cent 
piece, ground to a sharp edge, to be used as the knife or plow. 

27. — Homeward passage and disposition of the fish. 

When one of the vessels in the fleet» has obtained a fare of fish, or 
the skipper decides to go home, sometimes with a partial fare, the flag 
is usually set at the maintop-mast or on the main peak. This custom 
was not so common on our coast as in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The 
fish being salted, the homeward passage was usually performed in a 
leisurely manner, unless indeed the return was made during the fishing 
season, and the skipper expected to make another trip, in which case the 
Titmost expedition was used, and rapid passages were made. For sev- 
eral years it has been a common practice for vessels fishing in the Gulf 
■of Saint Lawrence to land their fish at the Strait of Canso, or some- 
times at Prince Edward Island, sending the fish home by steamer or 
freight vessels. This was only done when the vessel had obtained a 
large fare, and there was a prospect of another successful trip for fish 
that season. By this lueans vessels sometimes tilled up three or four 



[103] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

times in the course of the summer, obtaining, in some instances, as 
many iis 1,100 to 1,200 barrels.* 

28. — Financial profits of the mackerel hook fishery. 

Old-fashioned vessels were employed as seiners for a number of years 
from Gloucester, it then being thought by many of the fishermen that 
swift sailers were not so necessary for this branch of the fisheries as for 
some others. In this respect, as in many other things, there has been 
a radical change. 

The expense of fitting oiit with seine, boat, &c., deterred many of the 
owners from sending their vessels seining, and the more conservative 
clung to the old method of jigging until the failure of mackerel in the 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence compelled them to adopt the seine or abandon 
the business. 

As a matter of course such large stocks and enormous profits were not 
obtained by the seiners years ago as they have made for the past two 
years, 1880 and '81. ISTeverthless many of them did well. But a vessel's 
■"fit out" for jigging cost comparatively little, and with a much smaller 
«tock more clear mon^ would be left than if she went seining. This, 
together with the fact that more or less risk is attached to seining, such, 
for instance, as losing the apparatus altogether, having the net torn, the 

* The influence exerted upon the settlements in the Strait of Canso in the period 
Jbetweeu 1850 and 1870, by the trade thus derived from the mackerel fleet, was very 
reiuarkable. In many of the coves, on either side of the strait, small villages sprang up, 
.and large store-houses and wharves were built where the American vessels could secure 
•storage, for their lish until they could be shipped, and also at the same time obtain 
supplies of salt, bait, provisions, &c., which they required for the prosecution of their 
voyages. This, of course, brought a great deal of money to the people of Canso, and 
many of the merchants who were not slow to take advantage of the circumstances 
■foecame quite wealthy. Those were lively times in the strait, and it was not an uuu- 
:sual thing to see ten or twenty sail of mackerel schooners lying at Port Hawkesbury 
or at McNair's or some of the other coves discharging their cargoes and taking on 
board outiits for another trip. This afforded much employment to local residents 
:and remunerative returns. Most of the people who owned wood lands devoted their 
•time in winter to cutting and preparing for use a lot of fuel which they could readily 
•dispose of the following summer to the American fishermen at good prices ; and who- 
ever was fortunate enough to have a small stream or brook running through his land 
rnear the coves, usually derived quite a revenue from the American fishermen by charg- 
ing five or ten cents per barrel for the water which they were obliged to fill there. 

Of late years, however, since the general introduction of the purse-seine in the mack- 
erel fisheries, and the consequent failure of our fishing fleets to resort to the Gulf of 
■Saint Lawrence during the mackerel season, a great change has taken place in the pros- 
perity of the settlements at Canso. So much so, indeed, that many of the wharves 
-and store-houses have been allowed to fall into decay and become nearly worthless 
from disuse. Most of the coves which were formerly the scene of busy life and activity 
during the mackerel season, now have a comparatively deserted and forlorn appear- 
ance. Many of the merchants have moved away to Halifax and other business centers 
of the provinces, while those who remain find their business much less remunerative 
than it was at the time when the Strait of Canso was frequented by a large fleet of 
American mackerel schooners, which were eugaged in fishing in the Gulf of Saint 
SL/awrence. 



KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [104] 

boat stove, &c., served to deter the timid ones from engaging in it until 
compelled to. 

Rapid advances in the knowledge of using the purse-seine have beeK 
made within the past few years, which no doubt has had a strong influ- 
ence in changing the hook fishery into seining. For a number of years 
it was believed that mackerel could not be taken except in shoal water 
where the seine would reach bottom, and as a result of this but compar- 
atively little could be done. More recently the practice of seining in- 
the night; tolling the fish alongside of the vessel and then surrounding: 
them, &c., have added much to the i^rofits of the fishermen. 

The large net profits which were sometimes made by the mackerel 
hook fishermen previous to 1870 bore no mean comparison to the money 
cleared by the seiners of the present day, though, of course, the latter 
frequently get higher stocks. This, as mentioned above, is due to the 
difference of the cost of fitting out of a vessel for hooking and for 
seining, the expense, for the latter often being twice or three times as 
much as it would be for line fishing. The following account of some of 
the large mackerel stocks made by vessels engaged in fishing with hook 
and line we copy from the "Fishermen's Memorial": 

"The largest stock made in the Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fish- 
ery was that of schooner "Colonel Ellsworth," Capt. George Eobinsony 
in 1865. She was absent about five months, her net stock amounting to 
$13,728.* The high-liner's share was $558; cook's, $582. 

" Schooner " Gen. Grant," Captain Coas, in 1864, stocked, in two trips 
to the Bay of Saint Lawrence, $11,254.94, clear of all expenses.! The 
high line made $502.24; cook's share, $638.17. 

" Schooner " ll^or' Wester" the same year stocked $9,721.74, net, in one 
Bay trip; the high liner making $308.60, and the cook $486.61. 

" Schooner "Gen. Sherman," in a three months' trip to the bay in 1864 
packed 612 barrels of mackerel, her net stock amounting to $9,696o. 
High-liner's share, $575.06. 

" Schooner "Kit Carson," in 1865, brought in 591 barrels of mackerel,, 
having been absent about ten weeks. Her net stock amounted to» 
$6,542. High-liner's share, $260. 

"Schooner "James G. Tarr," in 1866, stocked $5,824 in a nine weeks^ 
trip to the bay. Cook's share, $331.76. 

" Schooner " Seddie C. Pyle," in 1871 , packed 1,070 barrels of mackerel 
caught off' this shore,| in addition to 18,000 southern mackerel sold fresh 
in New York, in the spring. Her net stock for the year was $10,561.60. 
High-liner's share, $491.38; cook's share, $708.52. 

" Schooner " Eureka," in six mouths' mackereling off this shore in 1868y 
packed 935 barrels, her stock amounting to $10,748.33. High-liner's, 
share, $440, S2; cook's share, $473. 70."§ 

* tier gross stock — the amount tier fisli sold for — was doubtless about $16,000'. 

tHer gross stock would be between $18,000 aiid $14,000. 

tNew England coast. 

^ Fishermen's Memorial and Record Book, pp. bo and 87. 



[105] histoey of the mackerel fishery. 

29. — Itinerary of a mackerel voyage to the gulf of saint 

lawrence. 

(By Maj. D. W. Low.) 

We go to Essex, a neighboring town on Cape Ann, six miles from 
Gloucester, or to the ship-yards of Gloucester, where we see on th& 
stocks, ready for launching, a schooner of GO or 70 toiJR, built in that 
thorough and staunch manner which makes the American fishing 
schooner celebrated for her sailing and seaworthy qualities required in 
the hazardous business she was built for. 

We next find the schooner alongside of the wharf in Gloucester, where 
she is got ready, or " fitted," for a voyage to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 
called a "bay trip." Fifty-five barrels of porgies and seven barrels of 
clams, with fifty hogsheads of salt in 115 barrels, and sixteen barrels of 
water are stowed by her crew in her hold, on top of which are stowed 335 
barrels more with their heads taken out and put inside, both head and 
barrel being numbered. After the provisions, lines, hooks, &c., are on 
board the flag is hoisted and she is ready for sea, having cost to that time 
$7,700 for the vessel and |2,075 for her outfits. Had she been fitted 
for seining her outfits would have cost $750 more, making her total cost 
with outfits $10,525. 

Leaving Gloucester August 5, 1875, we proceed to the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence with seventeen hands, shipped "by the berth," according ta 
their experience as fishermen, the b est fishermen getting the best berths, 
which are nearest to and on each side of the master. The master's 
berth is forward of the main rigging on the starboard side, nearly in 
the center of the vessel. Formerly the berths to fish, with exception of 
the master's and cook's, were sold at auction on board the vessel after 
she had started, as high as $50 or even more being paid for first choice j 
the amount of the bids, called "berth money," was equally divided 
among the sharesmen, they paying the amount of the excess of their 
bid over the average share. The cook fishes forward so as to be handy 
to his cooking. After each man's berth is decided. upon, each one pre 
pares the cleats for his lines on the bulwarks under the rail at his berth. 
"Jigs" are run in the "jig molds," and the lines, eight to twelve to each 
man, are neatly put upon the cleats ready for service. After passing 
through the Gut of Canso (stopping there for a little wood), the vessel is- 
ready for fishing. Lashed on the " port" side of the schooner, opposite 
the skipper, stands the "bait-mill," at which each of the crew, excepting 
the master and cook, take turns, commencing with the youngest, in 
grinding bait. The slivers of porgies are ground up fine, and clams 
are chopped with a long handled chopper, which are mixed with the 
porgie bait and some of it put into a box called the " bait-box" which 
is hung outside of the bulwarks, to the right of the master's berth, and 
water is added to it. After the vessel is "hove to" and she commences 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [106] 

to drift to leeward, the master, with a "bait-heaver," throws the bait 
from the bait-box into the water fore and aft the vessel to attract and 
draw the mackerel alongside. Some of the crew are below and others 
looking on, or perhaps put out a line with the skipj)er's to try for 
them. Soon the peculiar tapping of a mackerel's tail is heard on the 
bottom of a barrel, which, with the cry of "here they ?re," from the 
skipper, brings every man to his berth, and for a time the "strike bar- 
rels" standing a little in the rear and at the right of the fisherman, in 
which the mackerel are slat from the hooks, resound with the lively 
occupants. The best fishermen fishing with four and sometimes six 
lines each. The " spurt," however, is soon over, and after " picking" one 
once in a while the master orders "take in your lines," after which we 
haul in our mainsail, hoist the jib, and go on. The mackerel are then 
dressed, generally by gangs of three, comprising a "splitter," one to 
pass up the mackerel to him, and the " gibber"; the mackerel, after being 
split, are thrown into a "keeler," which is a shoal square box, about two 
by three feet square, which are put on board in nests of three; the 
"gibber," with mittens on to prevent getting his hands sore from the 
bones, opens the mackerel, takes out the gills and entrails (which are 
thrown overboard after dressing the catch), and throws the mackerel 
into a barrel partly filled with water to soak the blood from them, which 
is called a "wash barrel"; after fc.oaking, they are thrown into a keeler 
of salt, a few at a time, rubbed all over in the salt, and packed in a 
" sea barrel," one barrel of salt (3|^ bushels) being used in i)acking four sea 
barrels; after the barrel is filled and the fish allowed to shrink it is 
filled up (sometimes there is not time enough to allow it to shrink before 
heading up). The head of the barrel is put in reversed, on which the 
private mark of the catcher is cut in to identify it when landed, after 
which the barrels of mackerel are stowed in the hold. Frequently, 
when mackerel are scarce and time hangs heavy, industrious ones will 
"mess" their mackerel by scraping the blood from the backbone and 
cutting off the heads and tails, losing by the operation thirteen pounds 
on a hundred, but making the mackerel bring more in the market for the 
labor. 

During our voyage we sometimes tried for mackerel with others of 
the fleet one or two miles from shore, and being "hove to" together, and 
occasionally picking a mackerel which, as it glistened in the sun com- 
ing over the rail, no doubt led those on shore to suppose we were get- 
ting a good catch of fish, when fifteen wash barrels would cover the whole 
catch for the fleet in several hours' fishing. The latter part of October 
finds us on the way home, at Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, 
where we put in for a harbor, paying one dollar for harbor dues, and on 
2d of November arrived at Gloucester, having been absent two months 
and twenty-eight days, and caught 250 sea barrels of mackerel. 

The mackerel are hoisted out with a horse, the crew paying for it in 
preference to hoisting them out by hand, as formerly. After being 
landed each man's lot is stood upon the head together, with the marked 



[107] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

head up. One of tlie crew uuheacls them, another pitches the mack- 
erel as wanted into a " culling-crib," which is made about three feet wide 
and four feet long, with slat bottom, at each end of which stands an ex- 
perienced and careful "culler," who tosses the mackerel according to 
their grade into "culling tubs," which hold a half barrel each; two of 
the crew then i)lace the tubs when full on the j)latform of a beam scale 
where the "weigher" weighs them off, crying out "barrel of one's," 
or whatever the weight or grade requires; two of the crew empty them 
into the "packing cribs," while the master places the account of it 
under the name of the catcher, and the i^acker with a piece of red chalk 
marks the head of the barrel or whatever package is used with the 
grade of the mackerel. Half a bushel of salt to the barrel is used in 
packing, after which the cooper takes them, and after putting in the 
head it is rolled out on the whar^ by a laborer and there bored and 
pickled off by the "pickler." After being pickled off and bunged, 
they are stood upon their head and branded with the deputy inspec- 
tor's name and grade of the fish ; the trip is sold by the owner with the 
master, he acting for himself and crew; the voyage is then made up 
in the ordinary manner. When the mackerel are delivered to the 
packer the vessel and crew are done with them as producers. 

E.— THE MACKEREL GILL-NET FISHERY. 

30. — Implements, methods, and results of mackerel dragging-. 

Considerable quantities of mackerel are sometimes caught in gill- 
nets at various points along the ISTew England coast from Vineyard 
Sound to Eastport. For the most part, however, they are taken west 
of Mount Desert. This fishery is carried on in two ways : The gill-nets 
may be anchored and left out over night, as is the custom about Prov- 
incetown, or they may be set from a boat or vessel. The latter method 
is called " dragging"; the vessels are called "draggers," or "drag-boats," 
and the fishermen "mackerel draggers." 

The mackerel gill-nets are 20 to 30 fathoms long, 2^ fathoms deep, 
with a mesh varying from 2J to 3 inches. In Provincetown harbor they 
are set in the following manner: 

About the middle of i^ovember the fishermen of Provincetown Bay 
begin to put out nets for the large mackerel on its return. On one oc- 
casion Oai)tain Atwood had twelve nets out, five miles from land. On 
the last night of lN"ovember ho had taken notliing, but on visiting the 
nets the next day, he found they had sunk to the bottom filled with 
mackerel. He, however, succeeded in getting up eight, and the nets 
as they came to the surface looked like a sheet of silver. Three thou- 
sand three hundred and sixty mackerel were taken from these eight nets 
by nightfall. The next day the remaining nets were dragged in and 
1,700 more taken, making 5,000 fish netted at a single catch. On an- 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [108] 

other occasion a catch lasted three nights, when he alone caught mack- 
erel enough of the best quality to make sixteen barrels when packed.* 

In Gloucester harbor and at< other points on the coast of Massachu- 
setts and Maine they are set in shallow water, one or both ends being 
anchored and their position marked by buoys on each end of the gang. 
When set thus in protected harbors they are ordinarily placed across 
the direction of the tide, usually in a cove or bight of the harbor where 
the mackerel are known to occur, and wliere they are out of the track 
of vessels. 

The most extensive " drag-net fishery" is carried on by the vessels of 
Portland and Friendship, Me. The method employed by tliese fisher- 
men six years ago was somewhat as follows : The vessels are small 
schooners of 15 to 25 tons. They usually run out from the harbor near 
the close of the day, timing their departure so that they will be upon 
the fishing grounds about sunset, except when it is necessary to go a 
long distance out to sea, in which case, of course, the time of starting 
is earlier. Eeaching a locality where .mackerel are sui^posed to be 
abundant the vessel is hove to, and a gang of 10 to 20 nets is paid out. 
The nets are fastened together at top and bottom, and the outer end is 
marked by a buoy, other buoys being distributed along the gang at in- 
tervals, the junction between each pair of nets being generally marked 
by a keg or spar. To the last net is fastened a rope called a " net swing,'^ 
corresponding to the "fleeth-rope" used by the herring fishermen of 
Europe. This is a rope of three inches in circumference and 60 to 70^ 
fathoms long. It is paid out to its full length and made fast at the bow 
of the vessel. The foresail is then lowered down and furled, and the 
vessel lies head to the wind, drifting to' leeward and dragging the neta 
as she goes. If the wind is moderate the whole ihainsail is kept up, 
but if the breeze is fresh, or what is called a mackerel breeze, it is 
reefed. Under favorable circumstances the nets are allowed to remain 
out all night, but the fishermen in the two dories row constantly along 
the nets back and forth noticing the movements of the fish, and espe- 
cially looking out for the approach of dogfish. When a school of dog- 
fish approaches the nets after any number of mackerel have been gilled 
it is at once necessary to take them in less the dogfish should devour 
the mackerel, chew innumerable holes in the twine, and roll themselves 
up in it until it is so twisted and tangled that it takes the labor of days 
to get it in projier condition for setting again. If the fishermen are not 
annoyed by dogfish the nets are allowed to remain down, as h.as beei> 
stated, all night long, and the men in the dories constantly pick out 
the fish, frequently carrying their catch back to the vessel. When the 
dogfish attack the nets they haul them in with the utmost exj^edition 
and bundle them as hurriedly as possible into the bottom of the dory^ 
and after they have lifted them to the deck of the vessel take out the 
fish from among the meshes. 



'Captain Atwood, Proo. Bos. Soc. Nat., x, 186r)-'66. 



[109] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

It is part of the duty of the nieu iu the dories to keep a vigihint lookout 
for approaching vessels. The gaug of nets may be more than half a mile 
in length, and the keel of a large vessel passing over it would be almost 
certain to cut it in two. When it is still weather they row toward any 
vessel which they may see coming and asl^ the men on watch to steer 
clear of the nets ; otherwise they are obliged to stand by the nets and 
repair the damages as best they may. Sometimes the approaching ves- 
sels are induced to stear clear of the nets by the dory men, who hold 
up a lantern for that purpose. The mackerel caught in this manner 
are always carried fresh to the shore, and are intended chiefly for the 
supply of the markets of the large cities. They are packed in bar- 
rels, and may or may not be gibbed through the gills before reaching 
shore. A vessel setting a long string of nets may catch as much as 
fifty barrels of mackerel in a night, but ordinarily not more than five 
or ten barrels, frequently less. The barrels are carried on deck, and 
the fish are put in them as soon as they are removed from the nets. 
When the weather is warm the barrels are filled with ice- water. Be- 
sides the mackerel caught, considerable quantities of shad and ale- 
wives are taken in these nets. On an excursion made by one of the 
writers from Portland in 1873, besides six barrels of mackerel, there 
were caught with a .small string of nets about forty fine shad, averaging 
two pounds each, and three or four hundred of that sijecies of ale wives 
known to the Portland fishermen by the names of " kyack," " cat- 
thresher," " saw-belly," or " blue-back," probably identical with the glut- 
herring, Clupea aestivalis, of the Chesapeake basin, the summer ale- 
wive occasionally taken in New England rivers. On this occasion the 
mackerel were feeding extensively on various entomostraca, with which 
the water was filled, and which imparted to it a vivid phosphorescence 
all night long. The presence of these animals, and of others more 
minute, causes the water and the nets to "fire" in such a manner as 
often to render them so visible to the fish that they successfully avoid 
contact with the twine. 

The mackerel caught at Provincetown in gill-nets are brought in by 
the boats, and shipped by the fishermen to Boston in vessels devoted 
specially to this business, the owners of which receive a percentage 
upon the amount of their sales. 

The crew of a Maine mackerel-dragger consists generally of two to 
four men, the vessels being usually owned by the fishermen. 

The custom of dragging for mackerel, though practiced for centuries 
in Europe,* appears to have been first used in this country at Province- 

*For conveuience of comj)aiison the following descriptiou of drift-net fisMug for 
mackerel on the coast of England is quoted from Yarrell's British Fishes: 

"The most common mode of fishing for mackerel, and the way in which the greatest 
numbers are taken, is by drift-nets. The drift-net is 20 feet deep by 120 feet long ; 
well corked at the top, but without lead at the bottom. They are made of small fine 
twine, which is tanned of a reddish-brown color to preserve it from the action of the 
salt water, and it is thereby rendered much more durable. 

"The size of the mesh is about 2^ inches, or rather larger. Twelve, fifteen, and 



EEPOET.OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [110] 

town about the year 1841, where it is still prosecuted to a considerable 
extent in addition to the stationary gill-net fishery which has been men- 
tioned.* At first small open boats were used, such as the one described 
and figured in the fishery census report under the name of ''Province- 
town drag-boat." About 1845 Provincetown fishermen with their boats 
and nets essayed dragging for mackerel in the vicinity of Monhegan, 
Me., and by their example this practice was introduced into Maine, 
and since that time it has been carried on at various points on the coast. 

sometimes eighteen of these nets are attached lengthways by tying along a thick 
rope, called the drift-rope, and the ends of each net to each other. When arranged 
for depositing in the sea, a large buoy attached to the end of the drift-rope is thrown 
overboard, the vessel is put before the wind, and, as she sails along, the rope with 
the nets thus attached is passed over the stern into the water till the whole of the 
nets are thus thrown out. The nets thus deposited hang suspended in the water per- 
pendicularly, 20 feet deep from the drift-rope and extending from three-quarters of a 
mile to a mile, or even a mile and a half, depending on the number of nets belonging 
to the party or comjjany engaged in fishing together. When the whole of the nets 
are thus handed out, the drift-rope is shifted from the stern to the bow of the vessel, and 
she rides oy it as at anchor. The benefit gained by the boats hanging at the end of 
the drift-rope is that the net is kept strained in a straight line, which, without this 
pull upon it, would not be the case. The nets are 'shot' in the evening, and some- 
times hauled once during the night; at others, allowed to remain in the water all 
night. The fish roving in the dark through the water hang in the meshes of the nets, 
which are large enough to admit them beyond the gill-covers and pectoral-fins, but 
not large enough to allow the thickest part of the body to pass through. In the 
morning early preparations are made for hauling the nets. A capstan on the deck is 
manned, about which two turns of drift-rope are taken ; one man stands forward to 
untie the upper edge of each net from the drift-rope, which is called casting off the 
lashings ; others haul the net in with the fish caught, to which one side of the vessel 
is devoted ; the other side is occupied with the drift-rope, which is wound in by the 
men at the capstan." — (The History of British Fishes, first edition, 1836, vol. 1, pp. 
126, 127.) 

*Capt. N. E. Atwood, at Provincetown, writes as follows in regard to the introduc. 
tion of the method of dragging for mackerel at Cape Cod : "As early as I can recollect 
most of the mackerel taken along our coast were caught- with hook and line. A few 
gill-nets were set at moorings in our harbor and along the Truro shore during the first 
part of the mackerel season or as soon as the fish came in. The mackerel which were 
then taken in nets were sent to Boston market and sold fresh, sometimes bringing 
good prices. As the mackerel would not bite at the hook when they first struck in we 
would often get two weeks fishing before a sufficient quantity of mackerel were caught 
on the hook to glut the market. Boston market being at that time small and no ice 
used in packing, only a few fresh fish could be sold there at any one time. 

"In 1841 I went to Monomoy Bay (Chatham) to fish for shad; we went out in the 
bay and put out our gill-nets and drifted with them all night, if the weather would 
permit that mode of fishing, which we then and have always since called 'dragging.' 
On my return home to engage in the mackerel net fishery, very few had been caught 
in nets in our harbor, but large schools of mackerel had been passing in by Race Point 
and Wood End, and were going up the bay. I took my mackerel nets in the boat and 
and went out in the bay towards Plymouth, some two or three miles, and put them 
out and drifted all night; next morning I found I had got a good catch. This occur- 
rence took plack about the 15th of June, 1841. 

" It did not take the other fishermen long to get into this new way of fishing, and 
since that time this method of drag-fishing has been adopted along the coast of Maine 
and elsewhere." 



[Ill] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY 

In 1873, 12 or 15 vessels from 15 to 25 tons were employed at Portland j. 
at present the number at this j^ort is 18, and quite a fleet of the mack- 
erel-draggers also belongs to the vicinity of Friendship, Me.* 

Along the southern coast of Nova Scotia, and about the vicinity of 
the Straits of Canso, there is an extensive gill-net fishery for mackerel 
carried on with stationary nets, and, in a smaller degree, a similar fish- 
ery is prosecuted in some parts of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.t This 
fishery on the Nova Scotia coast is prosecuted when the mackerel are 
traversing the coast line in the spring and fall. 

"During the mackerel fishing season," remarks Mr. J. Matthew Jones,. 
" the people along shore appear to live in a state of much excitement^ 
expecting every hour the 'runs' to come into their bays. The traveler 
who may desire a horse and wagon to get on from place to place will 
find hard work to prevail upon the people to hire one out to him with su 
driver. Lookouts are kept on some elevated spot so that the schools 
may be seen some distance off" in order to give time for the fishermen to 
get off in their boats with the net." As at Provincetown, these nets 
are anchored only at one end, the other eud being left free to swing witk 
the current. They are sometimes set as far as ten or twelve miles from 
the shore, in water 20 to 50 fathoms in depth, care being taken to put 
them as nearly as possible in those localities which are known to lie in 
the "track" of the mackerel. 

The mackerel gill-nets are usually set with their upper lines close to 
the surface ; sometimes, however, as much as 2 or 3 fathoms below. 
The position of the net in the water is regulated by the length of tha 
buoy-ropes and the weight of the sinkers. As a rule, especially on the 
coast of Nova Scotia, they are, however, set close to the surface. 

In this region also there has been for many years an extensive seine 
fishery for mackerel corresponding to that which is elsewhere referred 
to as having been formerly carried on, two hundred and fifty years ago^ 
on the shores of Cape Cod Bay. The principal points for the seine fish- 
ery are at Margaret's Bay, west of Halifax, and at Chedabucto Bay, at 
the eastern part of Nova Scotia. 

Perley, writing in 1852, remarked: "In those harbors of Nova Scotia 
which are within the Straits of Canso mackerel have of late years been 
taken in seines capable of inclosing and securing 800 barrels, and in 
tiiese seines 400 and even 600 barrels have been taken in a single sweep." | 

In the same locality Perley refers to the use of the drift-nets, un- 
doubtedly meaning the set gill-net just described, remarking, however, 

* Friendship has 12 vessels, Gushing 5, Waldohoro' 2, and Booth Bay and Bremen 1 
each ; the total from Maine, inchiding those from Portland, being 39 ; the tonnage is 
,'>59.47; number of men, 133. 

t Schooner "Yankee Lass," of Boston, arrived home last week from a season's mack- 
ereling trip around the Seven Islands of Saint Lawrence River, with 300 barrels, all 
large No. 1 mackerel, taken in [gill] nets. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 30, 
188L) 

I Fitheriee of New Brunswick, 1852, pp. 13-16. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. [112] 

that tMs mode of fisMng is probably not so well understood on tlie coast 
of Nova Scotia as in England. He however quotes from Yarrell an 
account of drift-net fishing in England, which is altogether different 
from that used in ISTova Scotia and corresponds precisely with the drag- 
net fishing also described in the beginning of this cha^jter. 

It is worthy of mention that mackerel as well as herring, on the coast 
of Europe at the present time, are almost exclusively caught by the use 
of the drag-net, the only other method in use being the equally old- 
fashioned one of '^drailing," which was abandoned by our fishermen 
sixty-five years ago.* The antiquated method of drailing was, however, 
kept up by the fishermen of the Grulf of Saint Lawrence until 1860, or 
perhaps even to the present time, for the purpose of obtaining mackerel 
for bait to be used in the cod fisheries. 

F.— THE SPRING SOUTHERN MACKEREL FISHERY. 

The spring mackerel fishery is in reality a branch of the mackeref 
seine fishery, and the methods employed in it are identical with those 
described in the previous section of this chapter. In this place it is 
necessary only to add a history of this fisherj'^, a description of the 
grounds frequented by the southern fleet, and a few statistical notes. 

31. — FiSHINa-GROUNDS. 

The fishing grounds frequented by the southern mackerel fleet lie 
between Cape Hatteras and the South Shoals of Nantucket. The fish- 
ing season is in the months of April and May. The first vessels go 
south about the middle of March or soon after; but until 1878 no mack-, 
erel were ever taken before the 1st of April.t 

32. — Early catches of mackerel, 1878 to 1881. 

The earliest catches of the three past years are shown in the following 
notes : 

EARLY CATCHES OF MACKEREL IIST 1878. 

March 30. — Schooner " Lilian," of Noank, Conn., Captain Latham, o£f Chincoteague, 

April 16. — Schooner "Sarah M. Jacobs," of Gloucester, Capt. Solomon Jacobs, 
caught her first mackerel in latitude 36° 10' N., longitude 74° 45' W. 

April 18.— Schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, Me., Capt. Hanson B. Joyce, masterj 
caught her first mackerel 25 miles southeast from Cape May. 

April 25. — Schooner "John Somes," of Swan's Island, Me., Capt. J. S. Staples, mas- 
ter, caught her first mackerel 50 miles southeast from Cape May. 

* Though drailing was abandoned so long ago by the professional mackerel fishfer- 
men of New England, we are, nevertheless, told by Capt. Joseph Smith, of Gloucester, 
that this method of fishing is still practiced by the Block Island boat fishermen. 

tSchooners "Edward E. Webster," "NellieN. Eowe," and "Ivanhoe" sailedforthe 
south on Saturday (March 11) in pursuit of mackerel, the "Webster" getting the start 
by sailing at 4 o'clock a. m., and the others following at 4 o'clock p. m. This is the 
earliest start ever made in the mackerel fishery. Last year the " Edward E. Webster" 
sailed March 15, which was unusually early, and obtained a fare within a week there- 
after. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, March 17, 1882.) 



[113] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

EARLY CATCHES OE MACKEREL IN 1879. 

April 12. — Schooner "Sarah M. Jacobs," of Gloucester, caught first mackerel in 
latitude 36° 35' N., longitude 74° 50 W. 

Ap7-ill'A. — Schooner "Augusta E. Herrick," of Swan's Island, Me., Capt. William 
Herrick, caught first mackerel (130 barrels) in latitude 37^ 37' N., longitude 74° 23' 
W. 

Ajjril 13. — A few fish taken by schooner " S. G. Wonson," of Gloucester, 75 miles 
south-southeast from Cape Henlopen. 

A2)ril 14. — Schooner " Charles Haskell," of Gloucester, caught first mackerel in lati- 
tude 3ri^ 08' N., longitude 73° 57' W. 

April 19. — Schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, Me., caught first mackerel (140 bar- 
rels) in latitude 37° 50' N., longitude 74° 03' W. 

EARLY CATCHES OF MACKEREL IN 1880. 

April I. — Schooner "Edward E. Webster," of Gloucester, Capt. Solomon Jacobs, 
caught the first mackerel of the season in latitude 35° 30' N., longitude 74° 15' W. 

EARLY CATCHES OF MACKEREL IN 1881. 

March 20. — Schooner " Edward E. Webster," of Gloucester, caught the first fish of 
the season, and the earliest on record, in latitude .37° 10' N., longitude 74° 05' W. A 
second trip was caught by the same vessel on April 18 in latitude 38° 38' N., longi- 
tude 74° 00' W. 

Ma;/ 1(J. — The schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, caught 30,t)00 mackerel otf Block 
Island. 

* 33. — The vessels. 

The southern mackerel fishery is participated in by 30 or 40 of the 
Gloucester mackerel schooners and a number of vessels from Cape 
Cod and Maine. The total number of vessels engaged in this fishery 
in 1870-'80 was 64, of which 23 were from Maine jiorts and the remain- 
der from Massachusetts. These are aniong the swiftest and best of 
the fleet, and are provided with the fullest amount of canvas for making 
a quick i)assage to and from the fishing-grounds. T^early all of them 
have ice-houses arranged in the manner already described. 

34. — Apparatus and methods of fishing. 

The apj)aratus is in every respect identical with that used in the 
summer fishery; the vessels, however, carry, as has been stated, a much 
smaller number of barrels than when engaged exclusively in salting the 
fish. The manner of fishing is the same as that already described, except 
that the fish being much scarcer and their movements less regular 
than in summer on the more northern fishing grounds, a greater amount 
of vigilance and perseverance is required on the part of the fishermen. 
This is the season of the migration of the mackerel, and it is necessary 
that the fishermen should understand how to follow the schools of fish 
as they make their way northward, even if they are out of sight for 
<lays at a time. They cruise sometimes for weeks off the capes of the 
Delaware and Chesapeake, sometimes venturing farther south to the 
latitude of Cape Lookout, though they rarely find mackerel south of the 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [114] 

mouth of tlie Chesapeake. Sometimes weeks elapse before they find 
the fish. After the schools have made their appearance they follow 
them, and when they are not visible, usually allow five to fifteen miles 
a day for their northern progress, trying to keep among them as they 
make their way northward. When among the fish it is a common 
practice of the vessels to heave to and "jog" all night long in a north- 
erly direction, to keep pace with the movements of the fish. 

As soon as the first fare of fish is obtained, even if only a small one, the 
vessels make their way to New York with all possible speed 5 the ear- 
liest fish command much higher prices than those brought in later in 
the season. After mackerel become more plenty the vessels seldom go 
to market with less than 75 or 100 barrels, and it is not unusual for 250 
to 300 barrels, the results of one day's catch, to be taken in. The suc- 
cessful vessels often run into New York two or three times a week, 
especially when the fish are most abundant off Sandy Hook.* This 
method of fishing and marketing the fish is kejit up until the schools 
have reached the shoals of Nantucket, and the spawning season in that 
locality begins. At the. close of the spawning season, when the fish 
again rise to the surface, or when the other schools are found on George's 
Banks and in the Gulf of Maine, the vessels resort to the ordinary 
method of salting their fish, only a few continuing the practice through 
the summer of carrying: their fish fresh into the markets of New York 
and Boston. Occasionally cargoes of fresh mackerel are taken in the 
spring and summer into Philadelphia, and also, later in the season, to 
Portland. 

The spring mackerel fishery, as just described, is of comparatively 
recent origin, not dating back much before 1870. Twenty to thirty 
years ago New York was supplied with fresh mackerel chiefly by Con- 
necticut smacks, which caught the fish with hook and line and carried 
them to New York alive in wells. A peculiarity of this smack fishery 
was that the men fished with lines fastened to poles, as anglers fish for 
trout. The object of having poles was to enable the fishermen to drop 
the ca]>tnred fish alive, and without injury, into the smack's well. 

Vessels belonging north of Cape Cod at that time rarely if ever sold 
their fish fresh, although they often went as far south as the cajjes of 
Delaware. Their fares were salted and carried to Boston or other ports 
in the ordinary manner. 

The southern mackerel fishery was undoubtedly first prosecuted by 
vessels from Caj)e Ann; at least we have been unable to obtain relia- 



* Dispatches received here yesterday announce the arrival of schooner " J. J. Clark " 
at Now York on Monday, with 150 barrels fresh mackerel, which sold at from 6 to 18 
cents apiece according to size, and later of the arrival at the same jiort of the schooners 
"Seth Stockbridge," "A. M. Terry," "Snuiggler," and "T. M. Cromwell," each with 
200 barrels; "Moses Adams," 300; "Maud and Effle," 250 ; " Golden Hind," 75 ; "Fleet- 
wing," 65 ; " H. A. Duncan," 20 ; and " James A. Stetson," 50 barrels, which were sold 
at from 8 to 12 cents apiece. — (Cape Ann Bulletin, April 17, 1878.) 



[115] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

ble accounts of any fisliermen from other ports engaging in this fishery 
at an earlier date. 

"Capt. John Parsons, of Eockport," writes Mr. A. Howard Clark, 
says "that he was one of the first to go south after mackerel from that 
port. He went in 1817 in the schooner 'Defiance' of 35 tons. They 
went as far south as Cape May, and caught GO barrels of mackerel, all 
of which were taken by drailing. They had outriggers for towing their 
lines, and the lead sinkers weighed from 4 to pounds." 

An item in the Cape Ann Advertiser of May 20, 1859, remarks : 

"The practice of going south for mackerel has almost died out of late 
years, and this year there are but three or four vessels in the business. 
Some of the vessels which go in quest of bait take mackereliug ai^para- 
tus with them." 

" The practice of going south for mackerel in spring," writes Mr. Earll, 
" was first begun in Maine by a Georgetown vessel, the ' Queen of the 
M^est,' Capt. Francis Lowe, in May, 1851. She was gone but a short 
time (four to six weeks), and returned with a full fare, afte^^ which she 
proceeded to the bay. The next year the schooner 'Areola,' Capt. 
Warren Low, of Georgetown, joined the 'Queen of the West' on her 
southern spring trip, and in 1853 three went. Booth Bay sent none 
south until 1867, when the 'Cynosure' went, and Southport sent her 
first vessel south in 1868. In 1879 five or six went from this section. 
Vessels from Massachusetts, as stated above, had engaged in this fish- 
ery at even an earlier date." 

G.— THE EARLY METHODS OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY 

(1620 to 1820). 

35. — Catching mackerel ^th drag-seines. 

The method chiefly practiced by the colonists of New England for the 
capture of mackerel was that of drag-seining, and we find as early as 1626 
a record of the establishment, by Isaac Allerton, of a fishing station at 
Hull, where mackerel were seined by moonli ght. There can be little doubt 
that the practice of fishing with baited hooks was also early introduced, 
and that in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries groups of boats 
might have been seen, as at the present day, clustered together in the 
harbors, or near the outer shores, their crews busily engaged in hauling 
in the tinkers, and, occasionally, larger mackerel, which during the 
summer season found their way into these protected waters. It is not 
known when the custom of drailing for mackerel was first introduced, 
but it was, beyond question, the common method at the close of the 
last and the beginning of the present century. 

In July, 1677, the records of th'e Plymouth colony show that the Cape 
Cod fishery was let seven years, at £30 per annum, to seine mackerel 
and bass, to certain individuals who are named. They were restricted 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [116] 

to take in the Plymouth colonists with them ; and if none offer, to admit 
str'angers. 

The profits of the hire which accrued to the colony were sometimes 
distributed to the schools. (Mass. Hist. Collections, iii, 220.) 

A writer in the Historical Society's collections gives the following de- 
scription of these fisheries (vol. iv, 2d series, p. 232): "The aborginal 
name of this fish (the mackerel) is Wawunnebeseag, a plural term sig- 
nifying fatness — a very descriptive and appropriate name. The mode 
of taking these fish is while the vessel is under quick way and the helm 
secured, when all are engaged at the long veered lines, of which it is 
said that one man will attend three, and it may be more. The first 
manner of taking mackerel was by seining by moonlight. This perhap>s 
was first practiced by Mr. Isaac Allerton and his fishing company at 
Hull as early as 1626. After half a century the mode of fishing was 
changed to that of drailing with long lines while the vessel was under 
easy way; and this mode has been changed within these last twenty 
years (1811-1831). The mode of fishing generally practiced now is to 
invite the fish around the vessel while lying to by throwing out great 
quantities of fish cut in small pieces, and to take them with short lines 
held in the hand and drawn in with a single motion of the arm. By 
this method it is thought that thrice as many fish may be taken in a 
given time as by any other method. They are a capricious and sportive 
fish. In clondy and even wet weather they take the hook with most 
avidity. They are very partial to the color of red; hence a rag of that 
hue is sometimes a bait. A small strip of their own flesh taken from 
near the tail is used with most success." 

Seining mackerel with drag seines is still practiced extensively in 
the British provinces. That the practice was in vogue in Massachusetts 
less than fifty years ago is shftwn by the following item : 

"Last week twenty barrels of mackerel were seined 'at one haul at 
Sandy Point by Captain Baker. His seine is 500 yards long. A few 
weeks ago he inclosed a multitude of fishes, principally menhaden shad. 
It is estimated that their number was 200,000." — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
June 30, 1838.) 

In his history of Scituate, pp. 25-27, Samuel Deane writes: "In 
early times the shores of our bays were skirted with forest trees quite 
near to the water's edge. In the month of June, when all nature is in 
bloom, the volatile farina of the forest trees then floats in the air, and 
occasionally settles on the smooth surface of the seas. Then it is that 
this playful fish, attracted by this phenomenon, leaps and bounds above 
the surface of the water. So again, at a later season, in July and 
August, winged insects, carried away by the southwest winds, settle 
and rest on the bosom of the ocean, a welcome herald, it is said, to the 
mackerel-catcher. Such are the habits of many fishes ; and hence the 
use of the fly as a bait by the angler of the trout streams." 

Douglas, in 1747, says : "Mackerel, split, salted, and barreled for the 



[117] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

negroes iu tlie Sugar Islands, are caught either by hook, seines, or 
meshes. Tliose by liook are the best, those by seines are worst, because 
iu bulk they are bruised. Mackerel will not take the hook unless it 
have a motion of two or three knots; if quicker they will take the hook, 
but their jaw being tender gives way, and the mackerel is lost. There 
are two seasons of mackerel, spring and autumn; the autumn mackerel 
are the best; those of the si)riug appear about the middle of May, very 
lean, and vanish in two or three weeks." 

36. — DEAILIlvra FOR MACKEREL. 

Captain Atwood writes: "In my boyhood, when 1 caught my first 
mackerel, nobody thought of jigging them. We then took them in the 
same way as bluefish are caught. My first experience in mackerel fish- 
ing took place when I was a little boy, about 1815. I went out with 
two old men. One of them fished in the stern of the boat, and when it 
did not sail fast enough the other and myself^ — I was eight years old at 
the time — had to row, in order, by the more rapid motion of the boat, to 
induce the fish to bite. They would not bite unless the line was towed. 
Two great long poles were run out, one just forward, in such a manner 
that our vessel had the appearance of a long-armed spider. The poles 
were straight, and one line was fastened at one part, and another line 
on the end of the pole, in order to have them separated. This style of 
fishing continued until about the time when I began to go to sea, about 
1820. Jigging for mackerel then commenced, bait being thrown over- 
board, and the fish being thus attracted alongside of the vessel, and 
this soon came into general use." 

Capt. James Turner, of Isle au Haut, Me., who assures us that as 
late as 1815 the fishermen drailed for mackerel, gives the following ac- 
count of this method of fishing: 

"While drailing, the sails were trimmed in such a manner that, when 
the helm was partly down, the vessel would 'jog' along slowly, making a 
little leeward drift, so that the lines would trend off at a slight angle 
from the weather side. Each man had one line, the end of which was 
attached to the end of a pole that was fastened to the vessel's rail, pro- 
jecting out about 8 feet at right angles with the side of the vessel. The 
fisherman held in his hand a hauling-line which was attached to the 
middle of the one fastened to the pole, so that he might know when a 
fish took the hook and be able to haul it in." 

" About a pound of sheet lead was wound around the line a foot above 
the hook. When the vessel was engaged in fishing, the man standing- 
forward threw over a small amount of fine bait (which had previously 
been chopped with hatchets) occasionally, scattering it along in order 
to attract the fish, and keep them near the vessel." 

The following paragraphs are quoted from an essay in the Fishermen's 
Memorial and Record Book: 

"Trailing was one of the means used to catch mackerel in the olden 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [118] 

time, and one of our old fishermen informs us that when a lad he dis- 
tinctly remembers of being out in Boston Bay, one day, in a boat with his 
father, when he saw a vessel which looked very strangely to his young 
eyes, and, boy-like, he asked his father what sort of craft it was. 

"'That's a trailer, my boy, and we'll speak with him,'" was the reply. 

"They sailed quite near, and they observed that the vessel had out- 
riggers of long poles on each side, commencing forward at about seven- 
teen feet, and tapering off to five feet aft. At the ends lines were 
fastened, about twenty fathoms long, with a sinker of four pounds, and 
hook below. To each of these lines was attached a bridle, reaching 
to the side of the vessel, where the fishermen stood to feel the bites. 
This particular vessel was from Hingham, and had been out four weeks 
without receiving even a bite, and the skipper said he was going to 
give it up and go home." 

"The present mode of catching mackerel by drifting and tolling with 
bait did not come into general use until after 1812. The gear for catch- 
ing, previous to that, was a white hempen bob-line, as it was called, 
and the style of fishing was termed 'bobbing' mackerel. These lines 
were some seven fathoms in length, with a leaden sinker two inches long, 
and shaped like a thin pea-pod. At one end was a ganging about a foot 
long, for the hook. Every few minutes off would go the hook, and extra 
hooks were always in readiness to replace those lost. This mode con- 
tinued until the year 1816, when Abraham Lurvey, of Pigeon Cove, 
discovered a method of running lead around the hooks, and which were 
afterward called jigs. This he kept secret for many months. The hooks 
then in use were nearly as large as the haddock hooks of to-day. The 
small lines and fly -lines did not come into use until about 1823. About 
this time the gafl:' was introduced, and was abandoned after being used 
some ten years."* 

It seems scarcely necessary to discuss more in detail the methods used 
during the first two centuries of the mackerel fishery of i^orth America. 
In a following chapter an effort will be made to present a chrono- 
logical history of the fishery from its inception to the present time. 

*Tlie mackerel gaif was used to some extent, by the hook and line fishermen, as 
late as 1865, and possibly even since that time. 



[119] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



in.— LEGISLATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF 

MACKEREL. 

H.— LAWS, PETITIONS, AND PEOTESTS. 

37. — Legislation in the seventeenth and eighteenth cent- 
uries. 

At an early clay in the history of the United States a failure of the 
mackerel fishery was apprehended. The following notices of legisla- 
tion, copies of laws, and newspaper extracts will serve to give an idea 
of the state of public opinion at different periods from 1660 to the pres- 
ent time: 

1660. — Early regulation of the mackerel fishery. — The commissioners of 
the United Colonies recommended to the several general courts to regu- 
late the mackerel fishery; conceiving that fish to be the most staple 
commodity of the country. Few, who have not investigated the subject, 
have at the present day an adequate conception of the importance of 
this branch of productive industry. — (Freeman's Hist, of Cape Cod, 
Boston, 1862, vol. i, p. 239.) 

1670. — Prohibition of early mackerel fishing by laws of Plymouth Col- 
ony. — Wheras wee haue formerly seen Grreat Inconvenience of taking 
mackerell att vnseasonable times wherby there encrease is greatly demin- 
ished and that it hath bine proposed to the Court of the Massachusetts 
that some course might be taken for preventing the same and that 
they have lately drawne vp an order about the same this Court doth 
enacte and order that henceforth noe makerell shalbe caught except for 
spending while fresh before the first of July Annually on penal tie of 
the losse of the same the one halfe to the Informer and the other halfe 
to the vse of the Collonie; and this order to take place from the 20th of 
this Instant June. — (Plymouth Colony Eecords,vol. xi, 1623-1682. Laws, 
p. 228.) 

1g84. — Prohibition of mackerel seining. — In 1680, Cornet Eobert Stet- 
son, of Scituate, and Nathaniel Thomas, of Marshfield, hired the Cape 
fishery for bass and mackerel. In 1684, the court enacted a law " pro- 
hibiting the seining of mackerel in any part of the colony"; and the 
same year leased the Cape fishery for bass and mackerel to Mr. William 
Clark for seven years, at £30 per annum. 

Subsequently^ to 1700, it is certain that the mackerel were very abun- 
dant in Massachusetts Bay. It was not uncommon for a vessel to take 
a thousand barrels in a season. The packing, as it is called, was chiefly 
done at Boston and Plymouth. — (Deane's History of Scituate, Mass.) 

1692. — Repeal of prohibitory laws in Massachusetts. — And be it further 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [120] 

enacted and declared, That tlie clause in the act, entituled "An Act 
for the Eegulating and Encouragement of Fishery", that henceforth no 
mackeril shall be caught (except for spending whilst fresh), before the 
first of July annually, be and hereby is fully repealed and made void, 
anything therein to the contrary notwithstanding. [Passed February 
8, lG92-'3.] — (Acts and Resolves of tbe Province of Massachusetts Bay, 
vol. 1, 1692-1714, p. 102.) 

1692. 

AN ACT for the regulating and encouragement of fishery. 

Upon consideration of great damage and scandal, that hath happened 
upon the account of pickled fish, although afterwards dried and hardly 
discoverable, to the great loss of many, and also an ill rexjutation on 
this province, and the fishery of it, — 

Be it therefore enacted hy the Governor^ Council and Representatives^ 
convened in General Court or Assembly, and it is enacted by the authority 
of the same, 

[Sect. 1.] That no person or i^ersons whatsoever, after the publica- 
tion hereof, shall save or salt any sort of fish (that is intended to be 
dried) in cask or fattes, or any other way than what hath formerly and 
honestly been practised for the making of dry fish, on penalty of forfeit- 
ing all such fish so salted and pickled, whether it be green or drye ; the 
one moiety thereof to the use of the poor of the town where the offence 
is committed, and the other moiety to the person that shall sue for the 
same. 

And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 

[Sect. 2.] That henceforth no mackrel shall be caught (except for 
spending whilst fresh) before the first of July annually; and no person 
or persons whatsoever, after the publication hereof, shall at any time 
or place wdthin this province take, kill, or hale ashore any mackrel, 
with any sort[s] of nets or sa'ens whatsoever, on penalty of forfeiting 
all such mackrel so taken or haled ashore, and also all such nets or sa'ens 
which were so imployed ; the one-half thereof to their majesties towards 
the support of this their government, and the other half to him or them 
that shall inform and sue for the same. And all justices are hereby im- 
powered, and required to grant their warrants for the seizing of the 
same and the aforesaid forfeitures, or the receiving of the like value in 
currant money of this province. [Passed November 26, 1692.] 

[Acts and Resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Vol. 1, 1692-1714, p. 71. 
Province Laws, 1692-3. Chap. XXXII.] 

N 

1702. — Be- enactment of prohibitory laws. 

AN ACT for the reviving and re-enacting a clause in the act intituled ''An act for the 
regulating and encouragement of fishery" that hath been for some time repealed by 
the General Assembly. 

Whereas, in the second paragraph of the said act it is enacted "that 
henceforth no mackerel shall be caught (except for spending whilst fresh) 



[121] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

before the first of Jii1,y aunually"; and wbereas the said clause, by an 
act afterwards made and passed by the general assembly [1692-3 Feb. 
8.], was repealed and made void, which said repeal and the unseasona- 
ble catching' of mack[a]rel thereupon hath been experienced to be very 
prejudicial to this province, — Be it therefore enacted by Ilis Excellency 
the Governour, Council and Representatives [convened] in General Court 
or Assembly, and it is enacted by the authority of the same, That the 
said clause above-recited shall be and is hereby revived and re-enacted, 
and that henceforth no person or persons whatsoever shall presume to 
catch or cause to be caught any mack[a]rel, (except for spending whilst 
fresh,) before the first of July annually, on penalty of forfeiting all the 
mack[a]rel so caught contrary to the true intent and meaning of this 
act, and twenty shillings per barrel over and above for each barrel of 
the same; the one-half of the said forfeiture to be to her majesty for and 
towards the support of this her government, and the other half to him 
or them that shall inform and sue for the same in any of her majesty's 
courts of record within this province. [Passed November 11, 1702; 
signed by the Governor and published November 21, 1702.] — (Acts and 
Eesolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, vol. i, 1692-1714, p. 507.) 

38. — Protests against GiGGiNa and seining in the present 

CENTURY. 

1838-9. — Protests against gigging. — The Boston Journal protests 
strongly against the barbarous method of taking mackerel called "gig- 
ging,"* and urges that it is not only liable to censure on the score of hu- 
manity, but it is also impoUtic, and that if this destructive method of 
fishing- is generally continued a few j^ears longer it will break up the 
fishery. We have for a year or two past entertained a similar opinion, 
and probaibly the complaints now so frequently made by the fishermen 
that, though mackerel are plenty, they "will not bite," is owing* to the 
custom of "gigging." There is hardly anything which possesses life 
that has so little instinct as not to become very shy under such barbar- 
ous inflictions. It is obvious that all which are hooked in this manner 
are not taken on board ; the gig frequently tears out, and thousands, 
millions of these fish are lacerated by these large hooks and afterwards 
die in the water.— (Newburyport Herald, Gloucester Telegraph, Sept. 
23, 1838.) 

The following j^rotest appeared in the Gloucester Telegraph, Wed- 
nesday, August 7, 1839, it being a quotation from the Salem Register : 

"All the mackerel men who arrive report the scarcity of this fish, and 
at the same time I notice an improvement in taking them with nets at 
Cape Cod and other places. If this speculation is allowed to go on with- 
out being checked or regulated by the government, will not these fish 
be as scarce on the coast as penguins are, which were so plenty before 

* The method of capture called "gigging" here is undoubtedly gaffing, since a fish- 
gaff is even yet called a "gig" by some of our fishermen. 



EEPORT or COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [122] 

the Eevolutionary war that our fishermen could take them with their 
gaffs'? But dariug the war some mercenary and cruel individuals used 
to visit the islands on the eastern shore where were the haunts of these 
birds for breeding, and take them for the sake of the fat, which they 
procured, and then let the birds go. This proceeding finally destroyed 
the whole race. It is many years since I have seen or heard one except 
on the coast of Cape Born. In 1692 the General Court passed an act 
prohibiting the taking of mackerel before the first day of July annually, 
under penalty of forfeiting the fish so taken. In 1702 this act was re- 
vived with additional penalties — besides forfeiting the fish and ajiparatus 
for taking, 20 shillings per barrel, and none to be taken with seines or 

"A FISHERMAN 
"Maeblehead, August 3, 1839." 

1859. — Protests against the use of seines. — A petition is now before the 
Committee on Fisheries, in the House, to abolish the catching of mack- 
erel in seines on our coast. As mackerel can now be caught only in this 
way, and many of our people are interested in this business, it becomes 
highly important that any such stupid petition should be prostrated at 
once. Mr. Gifford has asked for a delay in the petition, and Mr. Atwood 
has written to show the nature of the business upon our coast. One 
thing is certain, if we do not take the mackerel in seines or nets we shall 
get none at all. — (Provincetown Banner, February, 1859.) 

1870-1882. — Protest against the purse seine.— ^ince the general adop- 
tion of the purse-seine no year has passed without a considerable amount 
of friction between fishermen using this engine of wholesale destruc- 
tion in the capture of mackerel and menhaden and those engaged in 
fishing with other forms of apparatus. Petitions to Congress and State 
legislatures have been made from both sides, and in some instances laws 
have been passed by State legislatures prohibiting the use of menhaden 
seines within certain specified tracts of water, such as the Chesapeake 
Bay. These laws, while especially antagonistic to menhaden fishing, 
were aimed chiefly at the purse-seine as a means of capture, and would 
doubtless have been equally prohibitory of mackercd fishing with purse- 
seines had this been attempted within the limits. In 1878 a delegation 
of fishermen from Portland, Me., and Gloucester, Mass., visited Wash- 
ington for the purpose of securing the passage of a law prohibiting the 
use of purse-seines in the mackerel fishery. In. 1882 the clamors of 
shore fishermen, especially on the coast of New Jersey, led to the ap- 
pointment of a committee of the United States Senate, which at the 
time of printing this report is engaged in taking testimony regarding 
the effect of the purse-seine upon the menhaden fishery, and incident- 
ally upon other fisheries of the coast. The labors of this committee 
will probably result in the recommendation of some form of legislation 
which will apply, in part at least, to the mackerel fishery. 

In the summer of 1882 a serious commotion was caused among the 



[123] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERIES. 

mackerel fishermen by the aunouucemeiit of the intention of a unmber 
of menhaden fishermen to employ their steamers and nets in the mack- 
erel fishery. It was the impression among these men that the mackerel 
were to be used for the mauufacture of oil and guano, but this has been 
denied by Capt. David T. Church and other representative men, who, 
reasonably enough, state that they could not aftbrd to use so valuable 
a fish for this purpose, and who claim that they have an undoubted 
right to use their steamers in the ca|)ture of mackerel for sale fresh in 
the markets and for pickling. 

As a matter of record we reproduce the following jjaragraphs from 
an editorial in the Cape Ann Advertiser, July 14, 1882: 

" It is not a difficult matter to anticipate the result if this class of 
steamers engage in this branch of the fisheries. There is no reason to 
doubt their ability to catch almost or quite as many mackerel as they 
have formerly caught menhaden. Several of them are large, capable 
of carrying 2,800 barrels of fish in bulk. These carry a double gang of 
men, and apparatus to correspond. During moderate weather, when 
mackerel generally school th<; best, and sailiug vessels find it difficult to 
move, these steamers can i)lay around the fleet of schooners, catch al- 
most every fish that shows itself, and carry them away to be used, not 
for food fish as they were intended, but for oil and guano, to enrich a 
few men at the expense of many." 

"If the steamers were to engage in the mackerel fishery, selling their 
catch for food, and w^ere obliged to spend the requisite time for dress- 
ing them, w^hich would debar them from an overcatch and carrying 
them to market, thus placing them on somewhat equal footing with the 
other fishermen, there could be no reasonable objection to their employ- 
ment; but it certainly seems, in view of this startling innovation, that 
some decided action should be taken by 'the powers that be' to pre- 
vent the catch of mackerel for the puri)Ose of manufacturing oil and 
guano. Thej^ are altogether too valuable for such a purjiose, and the 
risk of breaking up the schools and driving them almost entirely from 
our waters, as has been the case with menhaden, is altogether too great. 

"Unless some action is taken, and taken at once, and stringent laws 
enacted, we may confidently look forward to the destruction in a few 
years of ofte of the important industries of New^ England and the per- 
manent and serious injury of large communities which now derive a 
considerable part of their support from the mackerel fishery." 



REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FI8H AND FISHERIES. [124] 



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[125] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHEEY. 



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[127] histoey of the mackerel fishery. 

42. — The products of the north American mackerel fishery 
FOR 1880. (With tables ) 

From the earliest settlement of the country the laaclcerel fisheries 
have been extensively prosecuted by a larae number of people living- 
along the New England coast as well as by many of the inhabitants of 
the British Provinces. The catch has varied greatly from time to lime, 
and seasons of extreme plenty have often been ibllowcd by those of 
remarkable scarcity. Various theories have been advanced to account 
for this fluctuation. Many have been inclined to attribute it to over- 
fishing or to the apparatus employed in the fishery, M'hile others claim 
that the movements of the fish are affected by natural causes, such as 
tem])erature, currents, the presence or absence of food, and the like, 
over which man has little or no control. Whatever the causes that 
influence the movements of the fish, the fact of great variation in the 
abundance of the species from time to time remains. 

In 1804, according to the returns of the various fish inspectors, 8,079 
barrels of mackerel were packed in Massachusetts, while in 1814, only 
1,349 barrels were put up. In 1831 the quantity was increased to 383,058, 
this being the largest amount ever inspected in the State. A ])eriod of 
scarcity followed, and between 1839 and 1845 the inspection returns 
show an average of only 67,674 barrels annually. About 1860 the fish 
were again abundant, and for eight years the quantity packed averaged 
246,877 barrels. This period of plenty was in turn followed by one of 
scarcity, which culminated in 1877, at which time only 105,017 barrels 
were inspected, and the fishery was practically a failure, resulting in 
great loss both to fishermen and capitalists. Fortunately this condition 
of affairs is at an end, and the fishery is again in a prosperous condi- 
tion; the catch of the New England fishermen at present, if we include 
the fish sold fresh, bei.ng larger than at any time since the origin of the 
fishery. 

In 1880 the New England mackerel fishermen met with marked success, 
though those of the British Provinces were not so fortunate. By the mid- 
dle of March a number of the Maine and Massachusetts vessels sailed 
for the South to engage in the spring fishery, and by the 20th of the 
following month the last of the fleet, which consisted of 64 sail, averag- 
ing 65.66 tons each, were under way. The season opened with a haul 
of 25,000 mackerel taken off' the Virginia capes on the 2d of April. 
These were carried to New York where they met with a ready sale at 
good figures. From that time mackerel were taken frequently, the fleet 
working northward with the fish as the season advanced, reaching Long- 
Island about the last of April, and Cape Cod a few weeks later. The 
season was not a very satisfactory one for the Southern fleet,- as the catch 
was small, and the fish were of poor quality, a majority of the \essels en- 
gaged making comparatively light stocks, while many of them scarcely 
paid expenses. As the summer approached, the fishing improved greatly, 
the fish increasing both in number and ?i.iaiity, and the vSouthern fleet 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [128] 

was joined by a large number of vessels from the \-arious fishing- ports. 
Later, as the vessels arrived from their trips to the codfish banks, many 
were fitted oat to engage in tlie mackerel fishery, and by the 1st of August 
the fishing was at its height, the fleet numbering 408 sail, averaging a 
trifle over 50 tons apiece. Of this number 343 were provided with purse- 
seines for engaging in the ofif-sh^^e fisheries, while 125 fished with hook 
or net chiefly on the inshore grounds. The value of this fleet, including 
the fishing gear and the outfits, reached $2,122,360, and 5,043 men were 
employed. A little later in the season about 25 of the vessels pro- 
ceeded to the Gulf of KSaint Lawrence in the hope of meeting with better 
success; but few fish were seen, and the venture resulted disastrously to 
a large majority of them, many failing to pay expenses, while a few re- 
turned without having caught a fish. These vessels on their return at 
once joined the home fleet, and meeting with good success, most of them 
were enabled to make good the loss which they had previously sustained. 

About the 1st of July an unprecedentedlj' large body of mackerel 
entered the Gulf of Maine, many of them visiting the shore- waters, en- 
tering the various harbors and coves, where they remained for some weeks. 
During their stay in these iu-shore waters thousands of men and boys 
engaged in their capture from small boats, and in many localities a ma- 
jority of the male population participated in the fishery to a greater or 
less extent. The pound -nets along the southern coast of ISIew England 
were peculiarly successful, while large quantities were taken in the trai)s 
and weirs between Cape Cod and Penobscot Bay. Probably not less 
than 10,000 people along various portions of the coast of Maine were en- 
gaged in mackerel hooking during some portion of the season, though 
many of them fished chiefly for pleasure, while others caught only limited 
quantities for home supply. About 3,500 followed the business regularly 
for sometime, many of them reahzing considerable profit from the work. 
In Massachusetts a similar condition of affairs existed, and thousands of 
persons engaged in the fishery from small boats to a greater or less ex- 
tent, fully 2,000 fishing extensively for profit. 

Most of the fish taken by both the vessel and boat fishermen were of 
uniform size and of excellent quality. Few extremely large ones were 
secured, while there was also a notable absence of "tinkers." Over 
two-thirds of the catch were branded as "twos," many of them going as 
"extras." During the season, which lasted till the 1st of December, 
nearly 132,000,000 pounds of mackerel were taken. Of this quantity the 
Massachusetts fishermen caught 95,000,000 pounds, and those of Maine 
secured 31,000,000 pounds, the bulk of the remainder being taken by the 
citizens of Xew Hampshire and Connecticut. Over 75 per cent, of the 
entire catch was salted, about 22,000,000 pounds were sold fresh for food, 
nearly 5,000,000 ])ounds were used for canning, and the rest were sold 
for bait or for fertilizing purposes. The value of the catch, as placed 
upon the market, was $2,000,534. The following table shows in detail 
the extent and value of the fishery for the United States during the year: 



[129] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



Tabic showing, hy States, the qiiantitij of maclcerel taken hij the New EiHjland fishermen in 
1880, and the value of the same in the condition imchich they tvere placed upon the market. 





Total. 


Disposition of catch. 


Stato. 


Pounds of round 
mackerel taken. 


"Value of mack- 
erel as sold. 


Pounds used for 
pickling. 


Pounds used for 
canning. 


Pounds used 
fresh for food. 


Pounds used 
fresh for bait. 


0=*- »i 


Total 


131, 939, 255 


$2, 606, 534 


103,142,400 


4, 957, 455 


22, 239, 400 


1,100,000 


500, 000 


Maine 


31, 694, 455 

2, .573, 000 

95, 528, 900 

89, 000 

1, 303, 900 

750, 000 


659, 304 

48, 181 

3, 858, 342* 

1,669 

24, 976 

14, 062 


27, 342, 000 

^, 379, 600 

72, 153, 900 


1, 252, 455 


3, 000, 000 

193, 400 

18, 170, 000 

89, 000 

37, 000 

750, 000 


100, 000 

i," 000,' 000 





Massachusetts 


3, 705, OOO'- 


500, 000 




1, 266, 900 










(?) 















* Ineludinp,- both the fre.«h and salt mackerel used for canning;. 

As already intimated, there was a great falliug off in the Provincial 
mackerel fisheries during the year, the bulk of the catch, which amounted 
to over 70,000,000 pounds, according to the Canadian Fishery Eeport, t 
being taken by the shore fishermen of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward 
Island. Of the entire quantity 233,609 barrels were pickled. In the 
Canadian report the average price of the salt mackerel is given as Jfe9.25 
per barrel, but as the fish were much inferior in quality to the American 
catch, these figures are evidently incorrect. Statistics show that 105,730 
barrels of the above, equal to nearly one-half of the catch, were mar- 
keted in the United States (and it is fiiir to presume that these were of 
average quality), where they were ordinarily sold at lower figures than 
the fish taken by the ]S"ew England fleet. If we suppose the Canadian 
fish to be equal to those taken on our own shores (a supposition which is 
hardly warranted), the value of the catch, as giyeu by the Canadian aii- 
thorities, must still be reduced by $818,662, as the average price of the 
New England fish during the season was only $5.75 per barrel. 

The following table shows in detail the extent of the catch for the 
several Provinces : 



t Supplement No. 2 | to the Eleventh Annual Report of the | Minister of Marine and 

Fisheries | for the year 1880. =;== Fisheries Statements | for the year | 1880. 

Otta-wa: | Printed by MacLean, Roger & Co., Wellington street. | 1881. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [130] 






'I?^ 



rao.y jjodajj; neipeaeo jD'aSuj 






c 


pp.53, 76, 
100, 118. 
165 
215 
249 
269 


1 




•aniBA. 


00 

o 






-J. :d 05 




Canned macker 


•ai30 jad aoijd 9§Ba8AY 








13 m 




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o 






03T* CO 

00:0' 
-T)<CO 




'3 

a 


•aniBA 


(M 

cm' 

r-( 

■ee- 




40, 878 

1, 264, 320 
190, 500 
660, 560 




i '^ 

1 ^ 

•p.i,iBq lad ooiid 9,'SB.iaAy ' §. 

1 




8.15 

10. 00 

10.00 

8.00 




Ph 


•dn:^ndg[9iJBqjo.iaqinnjj 


C5 




5,017 

126, 432 
19, 650 
82, 570 






1 ^ 

•eaoTjd i„- 
pm![Sna[ jtt.9NriB 8;Dn "^ 
-pojd paiBdaad jo an[BA | «~ 




28, 848 

731, 184 
119,906 
475, 503 


- 


Grand total. 


1 to 

•4.iod 1 °t 
-9a; .Ciaqet^ nuipBueo g 
o:f SntpjoooB 'S'}oii ■""_ 
-po.id pa.iBdg.id jo 9ni;eA ?! 




40, 878 

1,270,368 
206, 464 
661, 256 


1 


•po.iinb9.i 
pi9j[0Bni qsaij spanoj 


to 

<M 




1,505,100 

37, 990, 080 

5, 994, 640 

24,781,440 




1 

! 

i 
1 


Provinces. 


c 
E- 




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C 


5. 

i 


c 

J 


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a 


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.2 
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1 



[131] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

In tbe tables from which the above summary has beeu compiled, no 
allowance seems to have been made for local consumi)tioii. A rough 
estimate of the amount used in this way would be 18,0()0,()()0 pounds, 
making a total catch for the Provinces of about 88,0()0,<)()0 pounds, 
worth, at i^rices current in the United States, uot far from $1,020,000. 

Mackerel are not abundant in the waters of the ]l!Tewfoundland coast, 
and few are taken by the fishermen. The returns for the year. ending- 
July 31, 1881, show that only 181 barrels were exp(n'ted. This quantity, 
which equals 54,300 pounds of fresh fish, doubtless represents the bulk 
of the mackerel taken, as few are consumed locally. Allowing an equal 
quantity for local consumption, we have only about 110,000 pounds, 
valued at $1,650, taken by the islanders. 

By combining the catch of the New England, Canadian, and New- 
foundland fishermen, we have the total product of the mackerel fishery 
for the western Atlantic in 1880. This is found to be about 220,000,000 
pounds of round mackerel, valued at $4,228,000. This value represents 
the fish as they are first placed upon the market. If the value to the 
consumer is desired, the figures must be nearly- doubled, to include the 
transportation charges and the profits of the various middlemen who 
handle them. 



v.— THE MACKEREL-CANNING INDUSTRY. 

By R. Edward Earll. 

J.— THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MACK ERE L- 
CANNING INDUSTRY. 

43. — The methods and. statistics of canning. 

The first experiments in the canning of fish on the American conti- 
nent were conducted at» Halifax, Nova Scotia, by Mr. Charles Mitchell, 
a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, who came to America in 1840 to engage 
in this work. During his stay in Halifax he was engaged in the can- 
ning of salmon and meats of various kinds. Later he removed to the 
United States and continued the work, putting up lobsters, salmon, and 
such other fish as were thought desirable. It was in this way that the 
value of the mackerel as a canned fish came to be known to our people. 
Prior to 1850 a few were canned in Boston and small quantities were 
put uj) at the lobster canneries in the State of Maine, From that date 
the business has been continued on the Maine coast, though for many 
years it was very limited, as the qualities of the mackerel wiien prepared 
in this way were not at first fully appreciated. The trade, however, 
has increased slowly from year to year, until canned mackerel are now 
handled by the principal dealers of all of the larger cities throughout 
the entire country. 

Prior to 1872 the only canned mackerel seen in our markets were fresh 
fish prepared in hermetically sealed cans by means of the ordinary pro- 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [132] 

cess. At this time it was found that there was a grov,ing prejudice 
against salt mackerel, owing to the size and quality of the packages in 
which they were placed upon the market. The smallest packages known 
to the trade were kits holding from 15 to 25 pounds each. These con- 
tained more fish than the average family cared to i)urchase at a time; 
and after a package was once opened, unless it was properly cared for, 
the brine was apt to leak oat, leaving the fish exposed to the air, thus 
causing them to rust and otherwise deteriorate. 

In the fall of 1872 Mr. Edward Pharo, of Philadelphia, obtained a 
patent covering the packing of salt mackerel in small hermetically sealed 
packages.* For some time the business was Yery limited, but later 

*We are indebted to Mr. A. Howard Clark for the following letter of specifications 
regarding Mr. Pharo's patent: 

Improvement in putting up salt mackkkel and similar fish.— (Letters Patent 
No, 132,31(), October 15, 1872.) 

* '■ * Hei'etoforo salt mackerel have been put up in wooden barrels, kegs, and 
kits. The form or kind of vessel was made necessary by the fact that it was difficult 
or practically out of the question to make a square water-tight box. Hence, also, the 
size of the j^ackage was limited ; that is, no package smaller than the kit — which 
holds, saj', about 25 pounds of fish — could be conveniently employed. The result was 
that many families were deprived of purchasing from first hands, as even the smallest- 
sized package — a kit — is much too large for many persons to buy. Another objection 
was on the part of dealers who, not selling in bulk, were obliged to open the packages 
and handle the mackerel, a necessity particularly disagreeable to country dealers, 
who keep stocks of silk and dry goods which are soiled by a contact with brine. The 
odor, too, arising from an open barrel of salt mackerel is held in extreme repugnance 
by many people. To obviate these several objections I have devised a method whereby 
salt mackerel can be put up in any sized packages, so as to come within the reach of 
persons of limited incomes, which will enable the dealer to keep on hand a stock 
whence no offensive odor arises, and which can be disposed of witkout breaking pack- 
ages. My invention, then, consists in putting up salt mackerel in hermetically 
sealed packages, preferably in metallic boxes. The boxes are made of any size and 
shape, though I prefer to make them cubical in form, and of dimensions to hold, say, 
five, ten, or fifteen pounds of mackerel. When metal is employed in the construction 
of the boxes, I desigu using a wash or varnish to protect the same from the action of 
the pickle. When metal is not used, but instead some material which may not be 
acted upon by the brine, this wash may be dispensed with. Although metal is deemed 
the most suitable material for the boxes, India rubber or some other substance may 
be advantageously employed. 

Besides those already enumerated, another advantage of this method of putting up 
salt mackerel is that the purchaser pays only for what he gets. Thus a quarter barrel 
of mackerel is supposed to run fifty pounds, and a purchaser, in buying a package of 
that size, imagines that he gets that quantity. Frequently, however, the packages 
run short; a quarter barrel, for instance, of "repacked" containing generally only 
about thirty-five i)ounds. When, however, he buj's by the pound, as he must do 
in this case, he pays, as already remarked, only for what he gets. Still another ad- 
vantage of this method is that, as I design using only the best quality of fish, the inter- 
est of the purchaser is consulted, which is not always the case now, as the jjacker, not 
having a due regard lor reputation, puts up an inferior quality of goods, and does not 
give full weight. 

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent, is the herein- 
described method of putting up salt mackerel, namely, in a hermetically sealed box. 

EDW. A. PHARO. 



[133] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

the fish dealers of the principal cities began to realize the importance 
of this method for increasing the demand for salt mackerel, though, as 
far as we can learn, the fact that a patent had been issued has from the 
lirst been entirely ignored. In the spring of 1879 Henry ]\Tayo & Co., of 
Boston, engaged extensively iu mackerel canning, utilizing the ordinary 
salt fish, which were put up in tiu cans holding from tive to ten pounds 
each. A little later a number of the principal fish dealers of Boston 
and Gloucester turned their attention to the business, which soon came 
to be very extensive. The quantity put up in 1880 was double that for 

1879, and the products for 1881 were considerably iu excess of those of 

1880. The present season, according to Mr. W. A. Wilcox, there is a 
notable falling off in the business, and tlie quantity canned will be 
quite small; the decrease being largely due to the loss occasioned by the 
rusting of the cans. If this difficulty can be overcome the trade seems 
destined to develop enormously, as the size of the package, and the 
convenience of handling and keeping the iisli have brought them into 
favor among the consumers. 

Iu the spring of 1880 jjarties interested in the preparation of sardines 
at Eastport secured a limited quantity of small mackerel, which they 
canned and placed upon the market as "broiled mackerel." The cans 
used w^ere like those employed for the large herring which are known 
by the trade names of ^'brook-trout" and "sea-trout," and the methods 
of preparation were very similar. The mackerel were found in every 
w^ay superior to the herring, and the demand for them has been con- 
stantly increasing to the present time. 

The advantages of mackerel canning are many. Perhaps the great- 
est point in favor of the industry is the fact that it gives an outlet for 
the small mackerel, which, for canning purposes, are found superior to 
the larger ones. The small fish known as "tinkers" are very abundant 
along the New England shores, great quantities of them being taken 
by the fishermen, who, on account of their small size, which renders 
them undesirable for salting, have heretofore experienced great diffi- 
culty in finding a market for them, and have frequently been obliged to 
throw them away. Limited quantities are sold fresh in the larger mar- 
kets, but boat fishermen living at a distance are unable to avail them- 
selves of the opportunities offered, owing to a lack of suitable means of 
transportation; while the vessel fishermen find it difficult to dispose of 
small fish wiien larger ones chance to be abundant, and the price paid 
for tinkers is always exceedingly low. The canning of mackerel, then, 
is peculiarly important, in that it renders valuable for purposes of food 
immense quantities of otherwise worthless products. The boat fisher- 
men are greatly benefited by the development of the industry, as with a 
demand for the small fish they find remunerative employment in fishing 
at a time when there is little else to occupy their attention. 

Cooked mackeiiel. — Prior to 1879, when salt mackerel were first put 
u]) in tin packages, nearly all of the canned mackerel were packed by 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [134] 

parties engaged in lobster-canning, the same apparatus being used for 
the work. The factories are open for the canning of lobsters about the 
1st of April, from which date to the 1st of July a large force is kept con- 
stantly busy. About this time the lobsters begin "shedding" in such 
numbers as to seriously interfere with the business, and the factories are 
often obliged to discontinue the work till late in the fall. Fortunately, 
however, the mackerel usually make their aijpearance on the coast at this 
season, and many of the factory-men turn their attention to packing them, 
thus furnishing employment to their hands during the summer months. 
The canneries for this work are located on the coast of Maine, and, with 
the exception of the recently developed canning interest in Boston, Maine 
has practically a monopoly of the business for the United States, though 
limited quantities are put up by the lobster canners of the British Prov- 
inces. As has been said, the fish usually arrive early in July, gradually 
nearing the shore, until, in a few weeks, they are abundant in many 
of the coves and harbors of the New England coast. For several weeks 
during the height of the season the majority of the male population of 
the smaller fishing ports are engaged in hooking mackerel, a considerable 
revenue being derived from this work. This is esj)ecially the case in the 
vicinity of the canneries, where a good market is usually found for the 
catch. The fishing continues till early in October, when the mackerel 
leave for warmer waters. 

In the canning of lobsters it is necessary that each factory should be 
provided with smacks or small vessels for gathering its supply. These 
usually visit the different fishing stations within a radius of 20 to 30 
miles of their respective factories, gathering the lobsters from the fish- 
ermen, who would find it difficult to ran them to market in their small 
boats. These vessels are often used in the same way for securing a sup- 
ply of mackerel for the canneries. As a rule, they are ordinary sloops 
or schooners, but the factory at Castine is provided with a small steamer, 
by means of which it is enabled to cover a much larger territory, bring- 
ing the fish to the factories in excellent condition. 

The catch varies greatly with the season ; some years large quanti- 
ties of mackerel are taken, while again the fish are scarce, and but few 
are secured. The price paid along the different portions of the coast is 
quite uniform, the fishermen usually receiving 1 to 1^ cents per pound 
for the fish as they come from the water, though in some localities the 
fish are dressed by the fishermen, and in this condition bring about 
two cents per pound. 

To obtain the best results it is necessary that the mackerel should be 
canned as soon as possible after they are caught. On reaching the 
factory the heads, tails, and entrails are removed, after which the fish 
are thoroughly washed and placed in strong brine, in which they are 
allowed to remain long enough to give them a salty flavor. They are 
then packed in cans which are at once carefully sealed. These are im- 
mersed in boiling water, where they remain till their contents are thor- 



[135] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

onghly cooked. They are next " vented," and after cooling are sent to 
the paint-room, where they are dipped in thin paint or varnish, which, 
serves to protect them from rnst. When dry they are covered with at- 
tractive paper labels and packed in cases for shii)ment. The cans used 
are similar to those employed for packing fruit, being made of tin and 
having a cylindrical form. Two sizes are used by most of the canners. 
The smaller, for which there is a large demand, is 4^ inches in height 
by 3 inches in diameter, and holds about 1 pound of fish; the other is 
4J inches high by 3^ inches in diameter, and contains about 1^ pounds, 
though it is ordinarily known as a 2-pound can. A larger size, holding 
3 pounds, is sometimes employed. The loss in dressing varies from 25 
to 35 per cent., according to the size and condition of the fish, while the 
labor of cleaning and canning costs from 18 to 22 cents per dozen cans. 
Fifteen to twenty-five persons constitute an average working force for 
a cannery. One-half of these are women and children, who receive from 
50 to 75 cents per day for their services; the remaii.der are tinsmiths 
and laborers, whose compensation ranges from $1 to $3 per day, ac- 
cording to agreement. 

The price of canned mackerel is largely dependent upon the quantity 
packed during a given season. In 1880 the price at the factory was 
$1.25 per dozen for the 1-pound cans, while the 2pounds sold for $1.85. 
In 1881 it is said to have been reduced to $1 for 1-pounds, and $1.50 for 
twos. 

Until 1880, as already stated, the canning of fresh mackerel was con- 
fined almost exclusively to the lobster canneries on the coast of Maine. 
At this time, however, a number of Boston dealers engaged extensively 
in the work, and, according to Mr. Wilcox, 750,000 pounds of fresh mack- 
erel were used for canning, the product of the canneries amounting to 
480,000 1-pound and 24,0U0 2-pound cans, valued at $53,700. During the 
same season the Maine canners purchaised 1,252,455 pounds of mackerel, 
from which 814,668 cans of the various brands were put up, their value 
at wholesale prices being $96,749. In other portions of the country a 
limited quantity of mackerel, estimated at 60,000 cans, valued at $6,500, 
were packed. In 1881 the Boston business had, as we are informed by 
Mr. Wilcox, increased enormously, and during the summer 1,764,000 cans 
were put up. The quantity for Maine was increased to about 1,000,000 
cans, and that for other places doubtless reached 100,000, making a total 
of 2,864,000 cans. In 1879 the quantity for the entire country did not 
exceed 900,000 1-pound cans. 

Salt mackerel. — The canned salt mackerel, as has been remarked, 
are put up from the ordinary pickled fish. Different brands are used for 
this purpose. Some packers select large fish of the best quality, thougli 
a majority use standard No, 2's. In preparing them for the cans, they 
are carefully washed and scraped so. as to give them a neat and attrac- 
tive appearance. Frequently the heads and tails are removed, and, if 
of large size, the mackerel are cut in halves to facilitate packing. When 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [136] 

the can contains the proper weight of fish it is filled with strong brine 
and carefully sealed; after which it is labeled and packed for shipment. 

No uniform standard of shape or size has been adopted in the manu- 
facture of cans for this trade, those used being either square, oblong, or 
cylindrical, as the packer may think most desirable. Those oftenest 
seen in the markets are cylinders, 4 to 5 inches high, and 6 to 8 inches 
in diameter, holding from 5 to 6 pounds. Other and larger sizes, hold- 
ing from 10 to 15 pounds, are frequently seen. 

During the season of 1880 the wholesale price averaged $5.50 per dozen 
for 5-pound cans. The cans usually bear the brand of the deputy in- 
spector under whose supervision they are packed, this being in accord- 
ance with the Massachusetts inspection law. 

The business has from the first been confined largely to Boston and 
Gloucester. Mr. A. Howard Olark informs us that 100,000 5 pound cans 
were put up in the latter city in 1879, and Mr. Wilcox gives 72,000 cans 
as the quantity packed by the dealers of the former place. In 1880, 
according to the same authorities, Boston parties packed 144,000 cans, 
and the Gloucester firms put up about 135,000. The quantity for the 
entire county, including those packed in New York and other ijlaces, is 
estimated at 360,000 cans, valued at over |150,000. 

Broiled mackerel. — At the sardine canneries two methods have 
been adopted for the j)reparation of mackerel. The first originated 
with Mr. Julius Wolff, of the Eagle Preserved Fish Company. By it 
the fish are treated in a manner exactly similar to that employed for 
certain brands of sardines. They are carefully cleaned and dried, after 
which they are fried in oil and packed in cans with vinegar and spices. 
The second method, which is now extensively adopted, originated with 
Mr. Henry Sellmann of the Americann Sardine Company. In June of 
1880 Mr. Sellmann, fearing that the increased number of canneries at 
Eastport, Me., would result in a scarcity of herring, decided to erect 
one at Camden near the mouth of the Penobscot River, where small 
herring were reported to be abundant. Failing to secure a sufficient 
quantity of herring, he turned his attention to the canning of mackerel, 
buying all that were offered by the local fishermen and sending daily 
to Boston for an additional supply. 

In preparing the fish, the heads, tails, and viscera are removed, after 
which the bodies are thoroughly cleansed and immersed in strong brine 
for a few minutes. When they have absorbed a sufficient quantity of 
salt they are again washed, spread upon wire trays, and i)laced in a 
tight box, where they are steamed for several minutes. The trays 
containing the fish are next placed in a large oven, to be thoroughly 
baked or broiled. On removal they are j)acked in oval tin boxes, holding 
about three pounds each, and covered with mustard, or with a dressing 
consisting of tomato-sauce seasoned with spices. The cans are then 
sealed and placed in a hot-water bath. When sufficiently cooked they 
are taken out and " vented." They are then allowed to cool, after which 



[137] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

they are neatly labeled as " fresh-broiled mackerel," and packed in 
wooden cases for shipment. Mackerel prepared in this way are, on ac- 
count of their delicate flavor, far superior to any of the brands of her- 
ring, and from the first the demand has been greater than the supply. 
Owing to the favor with which the goods were received Mr. Sellmanu 
soon found it desirable to locate a factory at some point where a large 
and constant supply of fish could be depended upon. Accordingly, in 
the spring of 1881 he associated with himself other capitalists, and built 
a cannery at Gloucester, Mass., where considerable quantities of mack- 
erel have been packed. Up to the close of the season no other factories 
were built for the preparation of broiled mackerel, but it is thought that 
in 1882 a good many persons will devote their attention to this industry. 
In 1880 Mr. Sellmanu packed 50,784 cans, valued at $16,400, and in 1881 
the combined product of the Camden and Gloucester establishments was 
about 200,000 cans. 



VL_METHODS OF PACKING, AND I:NSPECTI0N 

LAWS. 

By a. Howard Claek. 

K.— METHODS OF PACKING AND INSPECTION LAWS. 

44. Methods of packing mackerel. 

The bulk of the catch of mackerel by the American fleet is cured in 
pickle, being split, and salted in barrels. Some of the salt mackerel are 
afterwards smoked, but this method of curing is practiced only in two or 
three places, and here only to a very limited extent, though in parts of 
Europe a large business is done in the smoked product. The European 
way of preparing mackerel for salting is much inferior to the American 
method. The fish are cut open with a knife along the belly, instead of 
being split down the back. The gills and entrails are taken out, and the 
fish are then packed, belly up, in barrels. This is a very poor way of 
handling mackerel, for they are not soaked, and the blood remaining in 
them makes them dark-colored and liable to spoil in a short time. 

In previous sections of this report the manner of handling mackerel 
on board of the fishing-vessels has been fully described. Until about 
the beginning of the present century the labor of splitting and salting 
could be done on shore, since the flsli were sufficiently abundant near 
the laud so that boats or vessels made but short trips, disposing of their 
fares each day in a fresh condition. With the growth of the industry it 
has been found necessary to follow the fish further from land, and with the 
larger class of vessels employed it has for some years been more conven- 
ient and profitable to make longer trips than formerly. It has, therefore, 
become customary to perform much of the work of preserving the fish, 
on board the vessels instead of on shore. After being captured, the 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [138] 

mackerel are immediately split, salted in barrels, with sufficient pickle to 
insure their preservation at least until the vessel shall arrive home, and 
the barrels are stowed in the hold. When a fare is secured the vessel 
returns to port to " pack out." The barrels of ilsh are at once lauded 
on the wharf, when they are culled into grades as defined by law, and, 
after being properly weighed, are pnt up in various sized packages and 
distributed over the country. In most of the Kew England States there 
are laws that require each package to be branded by au authorized inspec- 
tor, who must thus certify that it coutaius the designated kind, grade, and 
weight of fish, and that they are properly preserved. The same fish are 
sometimes repacked in the Western and Southern States and resold 
under brands different from those required by the laws of ]S5"ew England. 

The manner of handling mackerel, though differing in some of the 
minor details, is essentially the same for all of the New England ports. 
The method described in this chapter is that pursued at Gloucester 
where great quantities of mackerel are annually packed. 

The barrels of fish are hoisted by horse-power from the vessel's hold 
to the wharf, and are set on end until all are ready for packing. They 
are next unheaded and the mackerel emptied, one or more barrels 
at a time, into the culling-crib,* around which stand three or more 
"cullers," who separate the fish into several grades, throwing them into 
weighing-tubs holding about 100 i)ounds each. After being weighed 
the fish are thrown into the packing-crib, and are ready to be put into 
barrels or smaller packages. The first two tiers in the bottom of a bar- 
rel are placed flesh up, and the successive layers back up. Over each 
layer is sprinkled a few handfuls of salt, using about a half bushel, or 3") 
pounds, to each barrel. The law requires that a barrel shall contain 
200 pounds of mackerel exclusive of the weight of the i^ickle, and that 
half, quarter, and eighth barrels shall contain proportionate quantities. 
Smaller packages of any size may be put up, provided the weight is 
properly branded thereon. The cooper now beads up the barrel and 
rolls it along the wharf in the proper row for each grade. It is next 
taken by the pickler, who bores a hole in the side and i)ours in some 
brine. For this purpose he places in the hole the i)ickle-tub, which is an 
ordinary water- bucket, with a copper nozzle in the bottom, thus making 
a very good funnel. The pickle is usually the same as taken from the 
barrel of mackerel as it comes from the vessel, being poured from the 
barrel into a pickle tub or butt and then dipi^ed by the pickler. It may 
be strengthened by the addition of fresh salt, and is considered of the 
proper strength when it will float a mackerel of ordinary fatness. The 
barrel having been filled with pickle, the hole is plugged up, and it is 
then turned on end ready for branding. It is often allowed to remain 
for several days on its side or on end, in order to allow the fish to settle, 
and is then refilled with i:)ickle. A lack of sufficien d pickle is determined 



*A culliug-crib may be of any size, but is usually a woodeu box 5 feet loug, 3 feet 
wide, and 8 inches deep, with slat bottom, and is set on legs 2^ or 3 feet high. 



[139] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

by the sound produced by striking the barrel with a stick or cooi)er's 
hammer. 

The labor of packing or patting the fish in barrels is generally done 
by boys from ten to eighteen yeai-s of age, who receive about 5 cents 
per barrel for this work, and often make good days wages as they be- 
come very expert. Captain Collins mentions one instance of a Glnces- 
ter boy, twelve years old, who packed 49vV barrels in one day, and ou 
another occasion 143 barrels in less than four days. 

The entire work of culling, weighing, packing, and pickling must bo 
under the personal supervision of an inspector, who puts bis official 
brand on the head of each package. This brand inust state the kind 
and grade of fish in the package, the name of the inspector, the name 
of the town and State where packed, and the date of packing. In 
Massachusetts the year when they are put up is considered sufdcieut, 
but in Maine and ISTew Hampshire the month must also be given. After 
being kept all winter, or even for a less time, the mackerel may become 
rusty or the pickle may leak out, so that they may require repacking 
and reinspection. Illegal branding by an inspector is punished by fine 
and removal from office. 

There is very little difference in the inspection laws of the several 
States defining the grades of mackerel. In Massachusetts there are 
five qualities, called numbers one, two, three large, three, and four. 
Xew Hampshire has the same grades. Maine laws define a grade 
called number three small ; that is, the same as number four of the other 
States. The first grade, or number one, must be mackerel of the best 
quality, not mutilated, free from rust, taint, or damage, and measuring 
not less than 13 inches from the extremity of the head to the crotch or 
fork of the tail. Number two are those of the next best quality, free 
from rust, taint, or damage, and measuring not less than 11 inches in 
length. Those that remain after the above selections, if free from taint 
or damage, and measuring not less than 13 inches in length, are num- 
ber three large. The next inferior quality, free from taint or damage, 
and not less than 10 inches in length, are number tliree. All other 
mackerel free from taint or damage are called number four. Ehode 
Island laws declare that " every cask of i)ickled codfish and mackerel 
ofl'ered for sale, or for exportation from the State, shall also be branded 
No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3, to denote the quality of such fish " 

Besides the regular grades required by law, dealers are accustomed 
to make other qualities, designated extra ones, extra twos, and mess 
mackerel. The first named are superior both in size and fatness, and 
are sold at a great advance over ordinary number one fish. Extra two 
mackerel are better than ordinary two, and are in all respects equal to 
ordinary number one fish, except in the length; these also bring an ad- 
vanced price. ?>iess mackerel are made from any grade, but principally 
from numbers two and one fish, free from the heads and tails, and with 
the blood scraped off. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [140] 

The size aud material of packages for pickled mackerel are regulated 
by law. The Massachusetts statutes require that pickled fish be put up 
in tierces contaiuiug each 300 pounds; in barrels, 200 pounds; half-bar- 
rels, 100 pounds, or in packages containing a less quantity, upon which 
the weight of the fish therein is legibly branded. Large quantities of 
mackerel are put up in a sort of firkin, culled a kid or kit, which holds 
about 25 pounds, or an eighth of a barrel. Quarter-barrels are also used 
to a considerable extent, and for the last two or three years packers have 
used tin cans containing about 5 pounds of fish each. 

All packages, except those containing less than 25 pounds weight, 
must be made of sound, well-seasoned wood, and be well hooped. The 
staves may be of either white or red oak, spruce, pine, or chestnut, and 
must be 28 inches long. The heads may be of either above kinds 
of wood, planed, and when of pine must be free from sap or knots. 
They must measure seventeen inches between the chimes. Each tierce, 
barrel, and half-barrel must be well hooped with at least twelve hoops, 
three on each chime and the same number on each bilge. The barrels 
must contain not less than 28 nor more than 29 gallons ; the half-barrels 
not less than 15 gallons, and the tierces not less than 45 nor more than 46 
gallons each. Each cask must be made in a workmanlike manner, and 
be branded on its side, near the bung, with the name of the maker. All 
casks not properly made may be rejected by the inspector. New Hamp- 
shire laws require rift timber for staves. In Maine poplar staves are 
also allowed. 

Barrels for packing fish are manufactured in various parts of New 
England, but most of them are made in Maine, Bangor being the head- 
quarters for this industry. They are sent to the fishing ports either put 
together ready for use or in shooks that are made into barrels at the 
cooper-shops in Gloucester and other places. The demand for barrels 
at the fishing ports sometimes exceeds the supply, so that their value is 
greatly enhanced. In 1881, during the height of the season, they fre- 
quently sold at over a dollar apiece, but the usual price for some years past 
has been from forty to sixty cents. Old barrels that have served one or 
more trips on the vessels for holding salt or fish are often repaired and 
sold at cheaper rates. 

While Trapani, Cadiz, and Liverpool salt are used in salting mack- 
erel, Liverpool salt is more generally preferred, as it keeps the fish in 
better condition. The salt is taken from home by the mackerel vessels. 
It is carried in barrels that are stowed in the hold until occasion comes 
to use it, when it is emptied and the barrels are used for mackerel. 

The quantity of salt required to prepare a barrel of mackerel ready 
for branding is about 108 pounds. On the vessel it is customary to u^e 
one and one-sixth bushels of salt for stowing down each barrel of fish, or 
3^ bushels for three barrels. On shore one-half bushel is used for each 
packed barrel, and as there is a shrinkage of one-tenth in packing, we 
find the total quantity of salt required to produce a barrel of packed 



[141] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL TISHERY. 

mackerel is 108 pounds, or three jionnds over a bushel and a half of salt. 
The entire shrinkage on mackerel from the fresh to the packed state is 
33 per cent. 

The cost of packing mackerel varies with the price of barrels, salt, 
and labor. During the war it was very high, and it continued so until 
about 1876, when it was reduced to about $1.75 per barrel. In 1880 it 
varied from $1.30 to $1.50, and in 1881, owing to a large demand for 
barrels for the increased catch of fish, packing advanced to $2 during 
the height of the season, and averaged about $1.75. This cost of pack- 
ing includes all the expense incurred in preparing the fish for market 
after they have been received from the vessel in sea-packed barrels. 

The packer is generally a deputy inspector, who is also part owner of 
the fish to be packed and inspected. He therefore realizes a profit both 
in the packing and in the sale of the mackerel. In some cases, however, 
the packer is not at all interested as an owner, but is hired as ji deputy 
inspector to prepare the fish for market. With a gang of men he goes 
to the wharf where the mackerel have been landed from the vessel, and 
being provided by the owners of the fish with barrels, salt, pickle, and 
culling and weighing apparatus, he performs the work, and charges from 
50 centsto $1 for assorting, weighing, packing, coopering, and branding. 
He may also make a profit on the labor in addition to his lawful inspec- 
tion fee. 

The inspection fee, exclusive of the labor and cooperage, is 9 cents 
per barrel in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, of which amount the 
personal inspecting officer is entitled to 8 cents and the general inspector 
to 1 cent. In Maine, where there is no general inspector, the fee is 7 cents 
per barrel. This fee is to be paid by the owner of the fish or the per- 
son hiring the inspector, and may be recovered of a purchaser. 

In settling with the crew of a mackerel vessel under the old methods 
of capture, the share of each man depended on his individual catch of 
fish. At the present day, when seining is the almost universal mode of 
capture, it is impossible to follow the old way of determming the shares, 
what the men I'eceive depending on the total catch. One man may receive 
a half or quarter-share because of his inexperience, while another may 
receive a share and a half for his unusual activity or some other reason. 
Th.e extra half share, however, would be paid by the owners of the ves- 
sel as a premium for the best work. 

Barrels and salt for use on the vessel are provided by the vessel- 
owners, who also furnish the apparatus of capture and the provisions 
for a trip. Stock charges or the expense of bait, if it be used, harbor 
dues, and some other items are paid one-half by the owner and one-half 
by the crew. Several other items, called the crew's expenses, as the 
wages of a cook, the milk and water used on the trip, the cost of hoisting 
the mackerel from the vessel to the wharf, towing, and extra labor for 
scraping and tarring are paid entirely by the crew. 

When the mackerel are packed and sold, the fishermen are entitled to 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [142] 

oiie-Lalf of the net proceeds of sale, and the vessel-owners to the other 
half. The difference between the gross and net proceeds is the cost of 
packing, includiug the barrel and the stock charges. Thus, a trij) of 
mackerel may be sold for |5,000. The stock charges may be $300 and 
the cost of packing $600. The net proceeds would be $5,000, minus 
$900, or $4,100. One half the net proceeds, or $2,0o0, is the owner's 
share, and the other half the crew's share. From the crew's half must 
be deducted the crew's expenses, which may be $150, thus leaviug $1,900 
to be divided among the men. 

Prior to 1872 a settlement with the vessel's crew for a trip was not 
made until the mackerel were inspected and sold, which might be sev- 
eral months after the trip was completed. As a general rule, the ves- 
sel-owner packed and purchased the catch very soon after it was landed, 
and then, having settled with the crew, he waited for a favorable time 
to put the fish on the market. The crew have, perhaps, a legal right to 
take their half of the fish, after deducting stock and packing charges, 
and may sell that half whenever they please, but in ])ractice the owner 
of the vessel usually sells the fish for the crew or buys them outright. 
The captain of the vessel may act as agent for the owner in selling mack- 
erel away from home. 

Since 1872, and especially during the past two or three years, many 
trips have been sold " out of pickle " immediately after being landed. 
The crew at once receive their share of money, and may proceed on 
another trip, and the fish may not be packed and put upon the market 
for several weeks, or even months. In selling out of pickle a barrel of 
mackerel is reckoned at 200 pounds of fish as they come from the sea- 
packed barrel, without being drained of pickle or the salt washed off, 
though the fishermen sometimes complain that there is a pretty thorough 
drnining and washing before the fish are weighed. The price paid the 
fisherman is so much per 200 pounds of fish, exclusive of the barrel, 
which is furnished by the purchaser. 

Mackerel bought from the vessel out of pickle are sometimes re-sold 
before being properly culled and inspected according to the letter of the 
law. The practice of selling out of pickle is often an accommodation 
to the fishermen, as it does not require them to wait for weeks or months 
for their money. It is also often a source of considerable profit to the 
purchaser, who, by careful culling, may realize a far. greater proportion 
of good grades of fish than was estimated in buying them without being 
assorted. 

A considerable source of profit to the dealers is the practice of buying 
inspected barrels of mackerel and then re-packing them, perhaps mak- 
ing a few more barrels of the better grades, or packing them as mess 
mackerel by cutting ofi' the heads and tails and scraping off the blood. 
There is a loss of about 25 per cent, in weight from ordinary to mess 
mackerel, but usually a more than proportionate increase in the value 
of the fish. 



[143] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

There has been considerable discussion as to the relative merits of 
mackerel taken with the purse-seine and those caught with the hook, 
and interesting experiments were made a few years ago to test the 
keeping power of the two kinds. An experienced fish-dealer of Boston 
states to.Capt. J. W. Collins that he very carefully salted and pickled 
a half-barrel of each kind, using the same quantity of salt on each. He 
headed the half-barrels up and set them awaj^ about the 1 st of October, 
and when he opened them about the 1st of the following March he found 
a marked difference between them. The flesh of the hooked macke^l 
was firm and in fine condition, while the flesh of the seined fish was 
short and mealy, retaining little or no firmness. He thinks the same 
difference will hold good in most cases. The same gentleman also made 
very careful experiments as to the comparative merits of Iresh and salt 
water for pickling mackerel. He salted and pickled two half-barrels, 
using fresh water for one and salt for the other. He put them up in 
the fall and opened them the following July, when he found a marked 
difference in them. Those filled with salt-water pickle were in excellent 
condition, while the others had a dirty scum on the pickle, and the flesh 
was dark and somewhat slimy ; the skin had a whitish, discolored ap- 
X)earance, and the fish were thought unfit to eat. He says that in 1879 
fresh water was extensively used in making pickle for fish, and thinks 
that when the fish are kei)t for any length of time they are unfit for 
food ; hence the sale or market for pickled fish is injured. 

Concerning the relative quality of hooked and seined mackerel, it ap- 
pears certain, frop the statements of many men of large experience, that 
the former are superior, and the reason is a simple one, namely, only a 
small quantity out of the entire school of fish is caj^tured, and these are 
carefully handled, while in seining the entire school of perhaps several 
iiundred barrels is caught and the fish are necessarily allowed to remai«t'" 
^br a considerable time without care, so that many of them may become 
soft and greatly inferior in (Quality to fresh mackerel. With proper care 
she seined mackerel may no doubt be as good as the others. 

There is a great difference in mackerel taken at different seasons of 
the year. Those caught in the early spring are very lean and shrink 
when pickled. As the season advances they grow fatter, and in the fall 
are at their best; so that the large fish taken in September and October 
grow heavier rather than lighter in i^ickle. 

The care taken of mackerel in the early years of the fishery may be 
judged from the following instructions to the masters and crews of 
Massachusetts mackerel vessels, which appeared in the Gloucester Tele- 
graph May 26, 1832. It is dated Boston, May 2, 1832, and signed James 
Barry, inspector- general of pickled fish: 

"The mackerel fishery has already' become a very important item in the 
catalogiie of the staples of our State; and, if we may judge from its rapid 
progress in past years, is destined to become one of its greatest sources 
of wealth. Your attention is requested to the following facts and re- 



REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [144] 

marks: Mackerel should be split as soou as possible, and, after the blood 
has been soaked out of them, immediately salted with such salt as is 
suitable for the pupose ; my own opinion is in favor of Liverpool or 
Cape Cod salt. It is necessary that it should dissolve as soou as possible. 
Eastport salt, so called, must not be used; it will not save the fish; it 
has proved destructive to fish and to meat. I have instructed my depu- 
ties not to pack mackerel struck with that kind of salt. Mackerel should 
be well salted in the first instance ; it is a mischievous error that lisher- 
man have folleu into by salting their fish too slack, as has often been the 
case; and another by usiag the plough, which has given to the fish a 
false appearance, and h.as been a source of mortification to the fishermen ; 
and they have in a great many instances found fault with the inspectors 
when the fault belonged to themselves in not taking that care of the 
fish which it was their duty to do, and which in many cases has been a 
ruinous business to purchasers. By a law of this commonwealth the 
inspector is required to throw into an inferior quality all mackerel which 
liave been plowed, cut, or mutilated for the purpose of deception. It 
can be of no advantage to the fishermen, and I trust will never again be 
done. I have strictly forbidden any deputy inspector from packing any 
mackerel with the gills or entrails in them. They must be cleansed by 
the fishermen before they are oifered for j^acking; otherwise they will be 
rejected. You must be aware how much better a fare of mackerel are, 
and how much more salable, when they are brought into market clean 
and well struck. 

" My hope is that you will take this subject into yoi^ serious consider- 
ation and remedy the evils which have existed, and which I think you 
will do if you wish to insure the sale of your fish and have a due regard 
for your own interest. Those of you who are acquainted with me will 
do me the credit of seeking the welfare of the fishermen, which is so 
nearly connected with that of the inspector. 

'' Wishing you success in your business and prosperity in your homes, 
I remain, your friend and humble servant, 

"JAMES BA^.EY." 

The following item appeared in the Boston Atlas July 15, 1845 : 
"For the last twenty years scarcely a year has passed but there has 
something new taken place in the inackerel fishery which had a bear- 
ing on the inspection laws. The mackerel are fatter or poorer, larger 
or smaller, plenty or scarce, some one of which are different from the 
previous year, and thus it is impossible to make a law to meet all these 
changes in every particular. Whenever a change takes place its first 
operation is generally in favor of one or the other, until an alteration in 
the law takes place or interest dictates a remedy. Such has been the 
ca*e the present season in relation to the South Xo. 3. 

" Heretofore all mackerel taken south of Nantucket have been denomi- 
nated Block Island, and considered to be of inferior quality; so much 



[145] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

SO that it became necessary to designate tliem from the Xorth No. 3's 
hy the word ' South.' Now it is the reverse. 

"This year the fishermeu found more of the middling-size mackerel at 
the south and in the latitude of Block Island than formerly, and, as the 
law did not oblige the inspector to cull these mackerel and make two 
numbers, the fishermen insisted upon their being packed and branded 
according to the letter of the law under the brand South No. 3. 

"As soon as those mackerel came into market and the true condition 
of the fish became known the prices began to recede. Upon learning this 
fact, it was immediately recommended to the fishermen and inspectors 
to cull their mackerel and make two qualities of South No. 3, which 
was, I believe, generally adopted. Thus we shall have four qualities of 
No. 3's, when, in fact, we ought to have but two, viz, large and small. 
I have thought proper to make this statement to inform the consumers 
and dealers in fish against any error they might be led into, supposing 
that all the mackerel i)acked in 1845 branded South are all large fish. 

"E. H. LITTLE, 
" Inspector- General of Fish. 

"July 14,1845." 

Capt. N. E. Atwood, of Provincetown, Mass., gives the following- ac- 
count of the past and present methods employed for curing mackerel 
by salting and pickling': 

"Some sixty years ago the method of catching mackerel with 'jig; 
came into general use, so that iu 1820 a large fleet of vessels were en- 
gaged in this branch of the fishery, fishing oif'the coast of Massachusetts 
and of Maine through the summer and autumn. Before the jig was- 
introduced the quantity of mackerel taken was comparatively small ;. 
they were mostly caught by trailing while the vessel or boat was sailing- 
through the waters, only a few being captured in nets. When the jig 
came into use the way of fishing on board of mackerel vessels was by 
hauling down the jib and laying the other sails in such a w^ay that the' 
vessel would drift squarely to leeward. Bait chopped fine was thrown 
overboard iu very small quantities, so as to keep a small string of bait 
going from the vessel all the time, and the school of mackerel, meeting 
this bait, would follow it up to the vessel and bite at the jigs, so that the 
fishermen would not have to wait for a bite while the fish was inclined 
to take the hook. In this way a number of barrels of fish could be 
taken in a short time, and a crew of ten men could catch iu an hour or 
two from ten to twenty barrels, sometimes more and many times much 
less, or very few.' As soon as the fish ceased biting, the crew engaged 
in dressing them, making three gangs of two or three men each, one 
man to split the fish and two to gib. The splitter as he splits them 
throws them into a gib tub ; the gibbers take each an empty binrel and 
put iu it two buckets of water ; they then commence to gib, taking up 
a single fish and opening it suddenly with a jerk, which causes them 
to break lengthwise along the lower end of their ribs if they are fatv 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [14G] 

thus making a crease on each side, but if tliey are poor they will not 
break. He then takes out the entrails and gills and. throws tl'e fisli into 
a barrel flesh down, and open ; if one or more should, be put in shut up 
the blood would not soak out. When the barrel is about level full he 
tllLs it with water, and it is then left for the blood to soak out of the fish. 
The gibber then fills another barrel in the same way, and so on until all 
the fish are dressed. After washing the decks, the next thing is to 
shift the fish into clean water, as that in which they have been soaking 
has become very bloody. Taking an empty barrel and. putting in it 
two buckets of clean water, the fi.sli are taken out one by one, and if 
any of the entrails or gills have been left in by the gibber, it is removed, 
so that the fish is thoroughly cleaned. At the same time that the fish 
are examined and cleaned the rimmer is used, plowing deei)er the 
creases in them, which makes them look fatter, so that when the in- 
spector culls them and puts thein up ready for market they may have 
a larger proportions of Ko. I's and and No. 2's. The rimmers are of va- 
rious kinds and shapes; some are made wholly of wood ; others have the 
end tipped with pewter and fine teeth on the edge, so as to make the 
crease look rough, as though it was broken naturally; others have a 
knife in the end, which cuts them smoothly. There are other kinds of 
rimmers and other ways of rimming too numerous to mention, but the 
object is to make them look fatter than they really are, and thereby 
gain in number of fat fish or in better quality, as this crease is an indi- 
(jation of their fatness. After the mackerel have been in the second 
v/ater a short time they arc ready for salting. They are salted in tight 
barrels, so as to hold the pickle, which Ii:eeps them from rusting, using 
salt enough to preserve them well until the end of the voyage. 

" When the vessel arrives at port the fish are taken out of the barrels 
and assorted or culled by an authorized inspector, agreeably to the 
Massachusetts insi)ection law. The inspector puts them up with his 
name on the barrels, and then he becomes responsible for their con- 
dition and quality. The above is the whole process of curing mackerel, 
and if so cured, and the barrels kept tight and full of pickle, they will 
Jieep in good condition a long time. 

'• While jigging was the principal way of catching mackerel they were 
taken in such a way ard in such quantities that they could be dressed 
before they became soft ; but since seining has come into general use the 
quality of mackerel is much inferior to what they were before. 

"The seining vessel may be on the fishing-ground and cruise for 
v/eeks and not get a single fish, for they may keep down and not show 
themselves on the toj) of the water. Then a day may come when mack- 
erel will come up and large schools of them may be seen in every direc- 
tion. The seiner then throws his seine around a school, and if he is 
fortunate enough to. inclose them, he hauls in the purse lines, gathers 
in the net so as to bring the fish into a compact body, and then com- 
mences to bail them out on deck with his scoop-nets. In this way large 



[147] niSTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

qnantities of fish are cangLt in a single haul, sometimes liimdreds of 
barrels. Having sncli a large qnautity, and Imndling them so mncli, tlie 
luen cannot dress tliem before they get softi When they are dressed 
and salted they are headed np in barrels and brought into port, and 
when opened for culling and inspection they are found to be ragged 
and soft, and donot compare in quality with the jig mackerel of former 
years. 

"One more fishery I will mention; that is, when the macherel arc 
passing off the coast late in autumn. A large number of gill nets are 
then set in our bay and kept there night and day. The fishermen visit 
them d^ily, as often as the weather will j)ermit, and take out the fish 
that may have been caught during the night. The weather is often 
windy and rugged, so that they cannot go to their nets for several days. 
The fish are injured by remaining in the nets any considerable length 
of time after they are caught. Mackerel taken at this season of the 
year are not of the best quality, for, even if they are taken out of the 
nets as soon as may be, on the following morning after they have run 
in, and dressed at once and put in water to soak, the water is cold, and 
as the blood is already chilled, it will not soak out of the flesh of the 
fish, so that they will be dark colored. When the water becomes cold 
the mackerel lose their fat fast, so that those that are caught here as 
they are passing oif late in ISTovember and earlj' in December, many of 
them have little or no tat in theni, however large the creases may be 
that have been made by the fisherman's rimmer to indicate their fat- 
ness. They are inferior fish, and often fail to give satisfaction to the 
parties who buy them." 

48. — Inspection laws. 

Statutes regulating the method of packing pickled fish are in force in 
many of the States, but the only ones governing the manner of prepar- 
ing salt mackerel are those of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 
and Ehode Island. Nearly the entire catch of the mackerel fleet of the 
United States, with the exception of fish sold fresh, is packed in Mas- 
sachusetts and Maine, and thence shipped throughout the country. As 
there is no national law governing the proper preservation and requir- 
ing uniform grades of mackerel, it often happens that fish packed accord- 
ing to law in New England are repacked in other States and sold under 
false or misleading brands, much to the injury of the original packer. 

In some of the States outside of New England, as in Pennsylvania, 
there have been laws requiring fish that have been legally inspected in 
other States, but rejjacked in that State, to be reinspected. The Penn- 
sylvania law was repealed in 1874. The law^s of Ohio require the in- 
'spection of all jiickled fish except shad, mackerel, and herring. In 
New York there is a law on the statute-book which declares that pickh d 
fish intended for foreign exportation must be inspected, but this law is 
entirely inoperative. The laws of Michigan permit the inspection of 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [148] 

fish when desired by packers. Fish- inspection laws are in force in 'New 
Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and Michigan, and also in the city of 
Cliicago and some other large cities, but they do not concern the mack- 
erel trade, except that the sale of damaged fish is generally forbidden. 

We give in the appendix to this rex)ort, first, the existing laws of 
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecti- 
cut; secomi, some of the repealed laws of Maine, Massachusetts, Con- 
necticut, and Pennsylvania; and, third, the laws now in force iu the 
Dominion of Canada, as also the old law of the Province of Nova Scotia. 

In early colonial days it became necessary to enact laws for the proper 
regulation of the trade in fish, and to prevent deceit in packing- them. 
Accordingly, as early as 165 L we find that the general court of elections 
held at Boston ordered that in every town within its jurisdiction officers 
should be appointed whose duty it was to see that the barrels of fish be 
properly packed, containing only one kind of fish, and those well cured. 
Each town was to make choice of a proper person as inspector, and 
within one week after the choice he was to be presented before a mag- 
istrate by the constable and take the requisite oath for the performance 
of his duty. Eefusal to take the oath incurred a penalty of forty shil- 
lings, and another choice v^as made. The oath was a strong one, and 
required the officer to swear by the living Go<l that he would well and 
truly pack all beef, pork, and other things when required ; that he 
would pack none but good and sound goods ; that he would set his 
mark upon every cask thus packed ; and that he would discharge his 
duties according to his best judgment and conscience. The size of 
casks and barrels in which fish, beef, pork, &c., were packed were reg- 
ulated by law, and according to an act pass(^d by the general court of 
the Province of Massachusetts in 1692 these casks must be of Loudon 
assize ; puncheons, 84 gallons ; hogsheads, 63 gallons ; tierces, 42 gal- 
lons; barrels, 31^ gallons; and must be made of sound, well-seasoned 
timber, and free from sap. 

If any person should illegally shift any fish that had been properly 
packed and branded, he must pay double damages to persons wronged 
thereby, and must be set in the pillory not exceeding one hour. Equally 
severe penalties were imposed upon violators of other sections of the 
inspection laws. If the master of a vessel receive provisions aboard of 
his vessel not properly branded, he must forfeit double the value of all 
Buch provisions, and the owner of the provisions must forfeit the same. 

Prom time to time during the history of the States various inspection 
laws have been passed, but since there is so much sameness to them it 
seems unnecessary to reproduce them all. 

In some of the States the appointment of inspectors has been lelt to 
the towns, while in other States they have been appointed directly by 
the governor. Some States have passed no general laws covering the 
inspectiou of fish, but all such regulations have been left to the cities 
and towns. But throughout New England, the center of the fishing 



[149] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

industry, the question has been regulated by State enactments, and the 
appointments of the chief officers have been made by the governor, who 
has, however, left the appointment of deputies to the chief inspector. 

Massachusetts has found it prudent to have an inspector-general, 
who supervises and is responsible for the numerous deputy ij»s[)ectors 
in the seaport towns. Maine had such an inspector-general down to 
1875, but the office was t'hen abolished, and inspectors aiVpoiuted in the 
fishing ports are now responsible to the State alone. 

As early as 181C there was an inspector-general of fish appointed in 
New Hampshire, whose duties were the same as of similar officers in 
other States. 

The existing laws of Maine were passed January 25, 1871, and amended 
by acts passed February 24, 1871, and February 10,1875, and |)rovid(i 
that the governor "shall appoint, in places wiiere i^ickled fish are cured 
or packed for exportation, one or more persons skilled in the quality of 
the same, to be inspectors of fish, who shall hold their office for a term 
of five years, unless sooner removed by the governor and council." 
Each inspector must be sworn and give bonds to the treasury of the 
city, town, or plantation where he is appointed for the faithful per- 
formance of his official duties. Inspectors must make yearly returns 
to the secretary of state, showing the quantities and kinds of fish in- 
spected. Their fees are paid by the original owners of the tish. 

The law regulates the grades of mackerel under three numbers, and 
requires that other pickled fish as well as mackerel shall be packed in 
proper barrels, and no more salt put with the fish than is nectessary for 
their preservation. iSTo pickled fish in casks can be exported from tlie 
State, or sold within the State, except such as have been inspected ac- 
cording to law in this State or under the insx)ection laws of other States. 
^Although, according to the requirements of the law, each inspector isi 
expected to make annual returns to the secretary of state showing the 
quantities of fish inspected during the year, no such returns can be 
found for the years 1821 to 1864, and for 1879, and only imperfect ones 
for some other years. 

The present laws of New Hampshire were passed in 1878. and are 
very similar to those of Maine and Massachusetts. An insi)ector is ap- 
pointed by the governor, and he may appoint deputy inspectors, for 
whom he shall be respousib'e. The inspector is under bond to the State 
treasurer for the J'aithful discharge of his duties, and the deputies under 
bond to the inspector. 

The law requires that all fish pickled in barrels for exportation, and 
all smoked herring or alewives, shall be inspected and the barrels and 
boxes properly branded. It regulates the size of casks and the material 
from which they may be manufactured. 

The inspector is required to make returns to the governor annuallj^ of 
all fish insi)ected by him or his deputies during the year. The inspec- 
tion fees are paid by the owner or i^erson employing the inspecting 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [loOJ 

officer, aud these fees are divided between the general inspector and lils 
deputies. 

Pickled fisli and smoked fish intended for consumption within the 
State, and fish packed in kegs of less than 10 gallons, require no iu- 
t.pection, but they must be x)roperly cured and jjacked, under the same 
penalty as inspected fish. 

The existing inspection laws of Massachusetts provide for the ap- 
pointment by the governor of an inspector-general of fish, who shall 
hold office for five years, and who shall be sworn and give bonds to the 
treasurer of the commonwealth in the penal sum of $10,000, and who 
shall have no interest, directly or indirectly, in the cure or packing of 
pickled fish. The inspector-general appoints deputies in the various 
seaport towns, and takes bonds from them with sufficient sureties. He 
is responsible for their official conduct, and may remove them from office 
at his pleasure. The deputies are, in most cases, members of firms that 
are engaged in packing fish, and receive fees for inspection that are di- 
vided with the inspector-general. 

The fees of the office of the inspector-general will be seen in the fol- 
lowing extract from the Cape Ann Advertiser of April 16, 1875: 

" General William Cogswell, inspector general of fish, has submitted a 
statement to the joint standing committee on fisheries of all the fees he 
has received from the office for the past eight years. The total receipts 
of that period have been $J3,365.06; total expenses, $4,400 5 net re- 
ceipts, $18,965.06. During the eight years he has made some twenty- 
eight different seizures of packages of mackerel, valued at $5,781.75, 
irom which he received, after paying expenses, $1,440.44, instead of 
$5,781.75, which he might have insisted on had he carried out the 
strict letter of the law, or an average of about $160 a year. Average 
net salary per year, about $2,550." • 

As these fees are paid entirely by dealers in fish, the office of insi^ector- 
general is of no exjjense to the State. ^ 

It is provided further that "under the supervision of the inspector- 
general aud his deputies, respectively, all kinds of split pickled fish and 
fish for barreling, except herring, and all codfish tongues and soun<ls, 
halibut fin« and napes, and sword-fish, whenever said articles are intended 
for exportation, shall be struck with salt or pickle in the first instance, 
and preserved sweet and free from lust, taint, or damage; and when 
the same are Ibund in good order and of good quality, they shall be 
packed either in tierces containing each 300 pounds," &c. 

Smoked herring and alewives are also to be inspected, and the size of 
the boxes for smoked fish, as well as size and material for barrels used 
for packing pickled fish, are clearly defined. 

Fish are divided in various grades, and only one kind allowed to be 
packed in the same package. Of mackerel there are five grades, deter- 
mined by their length and quality. Other fish are divided generally 
into two qualities, and so branded. 



[151] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

There has been considerable opposition to the office of inspector-gen- 
eral, and stronfi;- efforts have been made by lish-dealers to abobsli the 
office. In Maine there has been no inspector-general since 1875, and it 
is claimed by many that there is greater satisfaction among purchasers 
than formerly. The question has been discussed in the ^lassachnsetts 
legishituie at various times, and has always resulted in the retention of 
the office as one that is important to the security of ])urchasers. 

Since there is no national law covering tlie inspection of lish or the 
protection of the packers, it is claimed by the dealers in Massachusetts 
that mackerel are adulterated oustide the State, so that those inspected 
in the State r^ach the consumer in a poorer grade. A remedy sug- 
gested is to ]mck mackerel as they do other merchandise, by any weight 
or style of ])ackages, and brand honestly on each head the giade, the 
weight, and the owner's name, and do it in such manner as to prevent 
repacking without destroying the trade-mark. " Buyers will demand 
original packages if all such names as coyer fish that correspond to 
the mark on each head, and packages that have been tampered with 
will be rejected. There seems to be but one objection to this plan, 
namely, a large buyer inland might find it necessary to repack for 
better preservation, necessitating the breaking of the original seal. 
But this, we appreher.d, is not serious." There have been other plans 
suggested as substitutes for the existing laws, but the legislature has 
decided that the present regulations are just and proper. 

The laws of Ehode Island pi-ovide for the election in each town of 
one or more packers of fish, who "shall see that the same have been 
properly pickled and properly repacked in casks, in good shipping 
order, with good salt sufficient in each cask to preserve such fish from 
damage to any foreign port." The packers give bond to the town treas- 
urer for the faithful performance of their duties. 

Every kind of pickled fish must be sorted, and one kind only be put 
into one cask. The casks-- must be " well seasoned, and bound with 
twelve hoops; those for menhaden and herring of the capacity to hold 
28 gallons, and those for other fish of the capacity, if a barrel, to hold 20!) 
pounds, and if a half-barrel, to hold 100 pounds weight of fish; each cask 
to be full, and the fish sound and well cured." 

The law provides for three grades of pickled codfisli and mackerel, 
and imposes fines upon packers who neglect to obey the law, as well as 
upon any person who shifts fish from a cask after the same has been 
br.mded by the packers. 

Laws for the inspection of pickled fish in Connecticut relate to pickled 
shad, and provide that they shall be "well cleansed, and pickled in 
strong brine, and shall remain in such brine at least filteen days before 
they shall be put up for market, and shall be put in barrels or half-bar- 
rels, the barrels containing 200 pounds each and the half-barrels 100 
pounds each of fish." Tluee denominations of shad are defined, the size 
being determined by the number required to fill a barrel. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [152] 

Inspectors are appointed by the superior court in the several counties, 
and receive a fee of 20 cents per barrel for packing, heading, flagging, 
pickling, and branding. "Any inspector of fish who shall inspect or 
brand any package of shad imported into this State shall forfeit $5 to 
the State." 

In the several provinces now comprising the Dominion of Canada 
laws have from time to time been enacted requiring all pickled and 
smoked fish to be properly salted, packed, and inspected before they 
were offered for sale. In the year 1867 the Dominion of Canada was 
created by the union of Upper and Lower Canada, IsTova Scotia, and 
New Brunswick. In 1873 Piince Edward Island became a part of the 
confederation; so that the Dominion of Canada now includes all the 
provinces where fisheries are carried on, with the exception of Newfound- 
land, which still retains its individuality as a separate province of Great 
Britain. General fish inspection laws, extending throughout the Domin- 
ion, were enacted by the Dominion Parliament in 1873, but were repealed 
m 1874, when more complete statutes were enacted, which, with slight 
amendments passed in 1870, 1880, and 1881, now regulate the manner of 
preparing pickled and smoked fish for exportation or for sale within 
the Dominion. 

We give in the appendix the fish-inspection law as enacted in 1874, 
together with subsequent amendments; also the old law of Nova Scotia, 
as found in the revised statutes of that province, published in 1851. 

The principal object of fish-inspection laws is to prevent fraudulent 
pickling. There has been a great deal of discussion concerning the 
benefit of these laws; some packers contend that they are hardships, 
while others claim that without some legislative regulations much 
more fraud would result and the trade in salt mackerel be reduced 
to a very low state. The law is a protection to both buyer and seller. 
It guarantees to the former a definite quality of fish, and protects the 
trade of the latter in that it prevents a great amount of dishonest un- 
derselling and assures to the seller a definite knowledge of the mer- 
chandise sold by his neighbor. The principal kinds of fraud in packing 
mackerel are short w^eight-and wrong grades. The first kind of fraud 
is practiced by the addition of more salt than is necessary for the proper 
preservation of the fish, and a corresponding subtraction in the quantity 
of mackerel, thus keeping the same total weight in the barrel. Accord- 
ing to law a barrel of fish, means 200 pounds of fish, and not that weight 
of fish and salt. The second kind of fraud, or that of packing wrong 
grades, is more generally jjracticed, and the least liable to detection by 
ordinary customers. A No. 1 mackerel is plainly defined as the best 
quality of fish, at least 13 inches in length. A packer's notion of best 
quality may be as varied as the number of his customers, for, while the 
requisite length of 13 inches is given, there may be great difference in 
the degree of fatness, so that the No. 1 mackerel j)acked by one firm may 



[153] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

be far inferior to those i^acked under the same number by other firms. 
In other grades of mackerel the same fraud is practiced, No. 3 appear- 
ing as No. 2, and No. 4 paclied as No. 3. But a small part of the fraud 
in packing is done within the precincts of States that have inspection 
laws. Most of the fraud is in repacking in Western or Southern States 
barrels of fish that have been inspected in New England. A large quan- 
tity of fish are bought of New England packers and are by dealers West 
and South repacked, and the same frauds again practiced that governed 
the original packing of the fish. Thus mackerel that are in reality No, 
3 are first fraudulently packed as No. 2 and later as No. 1. A small 
short weight of fish and extra quantity of salt is increased until ten 
barrels of fish become twelve or thirteen. Especially is this short weight 
liable to be practiced where whole barrels of fish are repacked in small 
packages containing 25 or 50 i^ounds, and as in most of the States out- 
side of New England there is no law regulating the grade of mackerel 
and quantity required in a barrel, the dishonesty is not illegal, and can 
be carried on with an impunity only limited by the patience of the cus 
tomer. 

A chief cause or occasion for fraud is, perhaps, the fact that the in- 
spectors in States where inspection laws are in force are themselves the 
owners and packers of the fish. In Massachusetts only the inspector- 
general is forbidden to be interested, directly, or indirectly in the packing 
of the inspected fish. Nearly all the deputies, or the men who really 
do the culling, weighing, and branding, are the owners and sellers of 
the very fish they inspect. There is little protection against fraud, theie- 
fore, save in thehonesty of the man, and as the moral standard varies with 
different men, so does the degree or extent of fraud. A strictly honorable 
inspector would scorn to take advantage of his authority and under 
the cloak of his commission cheat his customers. Some inspectors, 
however, have an elastic consciencethatwill stretch to the point beyond 
which there is liability of detection either by a superior officer or by a 
customer. Such men can make old fish appear new by scraping off some 
of the rust, or can from one legal grade offish make two su[)eri<)r grades. 

In Maine there is no inspector-general of»fish, so that each inspector 
is responsible alone to the county or city authorities to whom he is 
under bonds for the faithful discharge of his official duties. For sev- 
eral years prior to 1.^75 Maine had an inspector-general, but in the 
year named the office was abolished as unnecessary, and inspectors be- 
came j)ersonally responsible for their acts. A loud cry was made in 
Massachusetts in 1874 and 1875 concerning the abolkshment of the oifi< e 
of inspector-general of fish, and numerous articles appeared in the 
papers of the day discussing both sides of this question, and including 
the general subject of fraudulent i^acking. We quote several of these 
newspaper discussions to show the general spirit of the discussion. 
The following article a])peared in the Portland (Me.) Advertiser April 
4,1874: 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [154] 

" To the Editor oftJie Advertiser : 

" In your issae of Marcli 31 I noticed an article headed ' Fisli Inspect- 
ors,' from which readers not familiar with the business would receive a de- 
cidedly wrong" impression, as they would infer that the inspectors of fish 
are in favor of abolishing the present law by which they are governed. 
But such is not the case. The whole difiiculty seems to rest with one 
or two fish buyers ; they are anxious to have the law repealed, and 
those acquainted with the fish business can easily understand the motives 
by which they are prompted. The fishing interest of Portland is of vital 
importance, and should be protected, and every honorable influence 
brought to bear to encourage fishermen" living east of Portland to bring 
their fish here to market; but if the views of some of the fish buyers 
should be carried out, it is evident that not only vessels from the east 
would pass this port, but vessels that are owned and pack their fish here 
would be obliged to seek another market. 

"All the regular deputy inspectors of fish in this city have presented 
a petition to the governor praying that the present manner of couductiDg 
the business under a general inspector may be continued, and the present 
incumbent, who has served so faithfully and impartially, may be reap- 
pointed for the usual term of five years, believing that it is the best and 
most judicious course to pursue both for the buyer and inspector. 

"The old system, as it is termed, has been tried, and it failed to give 
satisfaction. Under the present law a general inspector is appointed 
to take the entire charge, and he appoints his deputies, who are re- 
quired to give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties. Mas- 
sachusetts has the same law, and we hear no complaint. 

"You s ate that ' by the old system deputy inspectors were appointed 
who were, generally speaking, connected with the fish business, and on 
them the responsibility rested, and at that time Portland fish stood very 
high.' Under the present l,aw all the deputies are directly interested in 
the fish business, and they know that if these fish are not put up accord- 
ing to law the responsibility rests ui)on them. Upon whom else can they 
throw the responsibility '? They inspect the fish and brand them, and 
have given bonds as the la*v requires. You 'would not imply there is 
deterioration in Portland fish, but yet the deputies have been inclined to 
be careless.' So it seems that, although the dei)uties have been careless, 
yet the fish is up to the standard ! Then what reason is there for com- 
plaint'? I am inclined to believe that the writer of the article was either 
misinformed, or else he wished to abuse the public mind with the impres- 
sion that the general inspector had an exorbitant salary, and that this 
office entails an expense upon the merchants. The compensation of the 
general inspector last year was about three hundred dollars, and it is all 
paid by his deputies, who are assessed one cent per barrel for all the fish 
they Inspect. So far as regards the quality of the fish, there is a law 
which definitely states what is required to constitute the different grades 
ot fish, so that the inspector has his instructions from the law, and there 



[155] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

is no motive for the deputy to pack iu any other way tbau the law directs, 
for he has nothing to gain, but everything to lose, providing the fish are 
returned to him. 

" We hope the law will remain as it is, and that the governor will be 
pleased to reappoint for a general inspector Mr. D. L. Fernald, of Cam- 
den, who is soon to become a resident of this city. 

" INSPECTOE." 

An editorial in the Cape Ann Advertiser of November 28, 1874, says: 

" The Boston Herald of Monday has a lengthy article on mackerel 
packing, in which it argues that the recent depression of the mackerel 
market is owiug to the fraud practiced in selling short- weight packages 
and the making of ^o. 1 mackerel out of 3's, and it is charged that large 
spring herring have been split along the back and sold ont West for 
mackerel, giving a large profit to those engaged in the nefarious business. 

''The appointment of an inspector-general of fish purely on political 
grounds, without his having knowledge of the practical duties of the 
ofl&ce, is denounced, as the office is one which requires the services of a 
practical man, who should devote his whole time to the work. A well- 
deserved compliment is given those engaged in the fish-packing busi- 
ness in Massachusetts, saying that nearly all the old and reliable fish 
houses are as exact and careful in putting up fish now as ever 5 but the 
principal part of the fraud in weight and quality of fish is perpetrated 
outside of Massachusotts, and the packages marked with counterfeit 
Massachusetts inspectors' brands. Instances of fraud are quoted, and 
the Herald concludes by asserting that 'good inspection laws rigidly 
enforced, and a practical inspector-general, who will attend to his dutie.<, 
devoting his whole time thereto, are the only means by which our mack- 
eral trade can be sustained and extended to the gigantic proportions to 
which good management and honest dealiug will surely bring it in the 
end.' 

"We venture the assertion that the dealers in mackerel who wish a 
really good article and send orders directly to this city have but little, 
if any, cause for complaint in the matter of fraud in packing. Gloucester 
fish-packers, as a whole, have an enviable reputation in this particular; 
but they cannot hinder dishonorable dealers in other cities from repack- 
ing and selling short-weight packages or lean fish for fat ones, short fish 
for long, or herring for mackerel. Neither can they prohibit the counter- 
feiting of their brands or any other trickery which unprincipled dealers 
in States where there is no inspection law may perpetrate after receiv- 
ing their stock from headquarters. All they can do is to continue pack- 
ing and selling the best qualities offish, and it will not belong ere the 
entire catch of this port will find its way into the hands of those who 
can and will appreciate fair and honest dealing. There is little fear but 
this fraud in mackerel-packing, will soon regulate itself, and honest 
dealers will reap the reward of well-doing." 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [156] 

The followiug communication, signed W. S., appears in the same 
paper as the preceding, under date of February 12, 1875 : 

" There seems to be a hitch in mackerel — an honest, clever fish — but 
by the haste of somebody to overreach somebody else they fail to reach 
the cook South and West under an accurate denomination, and this cur- 
tails their consumption. If adulteration was chargeable to Massachu- 
setts inspectors, a capable, efficient, and honest general inspector conld 
remedy the evil, but we apprehend that the bulk — we»will not say all, 
lest our communication be worthless — of the adulteration is beyond the 
precincts of our State. 

"It appears to the writer that there are two ways to improve the 
mackerel trade, both within easy reach of the merchants engaged in fish 
commerce. First, install a general inspector familiar with fish by a prac- 
tical education; and next, to go for his duty as unerriugly as a bullet 
would, and call for the cooper and a pair of scales, and confine his busi- 
ness to the said cooper and the said scales. If criticism is demanded, 
let it be with a note that makes one deputy less. But it is remarked, 
'This is all very well for Massachusetts; we have no control beyond the 
limits of the State, where the chief mischief lies.' This we admit, and 
it is a feature that can't be remedied except by national legislation. 

"A remedy we offer, that avoids necessity for State or national 
laws, general and deputy inspector|, as follows: Pack mackerel as they 
do other merchandise, by any weight or style packages, and brand hon- 
estly on each head as follows — the grade, the weight, and the owner's 
name, and do it in such manner as to in^event repacking without de- 
stroying the trade-mark. Buyers will demand original packages of 
all such names as cover fish that correspond to the mark on each head, 
and packages that have been tampered with will be rejected. There 
seems to be but one objection to this plan, namely, a large buyer inland 
might find it necessary to .repack for better i>reservation, necessitating 
the breaking of the original seal. But this we ax)prehend is not seri- 
ous. As at ijresent conducted, we learn from our most intelligent and 
reliable fish merchants that the office of a general inspector is of no sort 
of benefit to the fish interest, and ought to be done away with, or place 
in'the office some one who will execute the laws of the Commonwealth 
without fear or favor." 

On the same date as the preceding article we find the following 
editorial : 

"A petition is in circulation in this city, and has received a large num- 
ber of signatures, for the repeal of the law providing for an inspector- 
general of fish. The petition sets forth that ' said officer is no benefit 
or advantage to the fishing interests of Massachusetts, and that the fees 
as at present paid to said inspector- general is a tax upon the business 
from which the fish-producers and dealers receive no benefit.' 

'' Once was the time when a deputy fish-inspector's brand on mackerel 
had some significance, and the buyer could rely upon it in the purchase 



[157] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. ' 

and selling of fish, without even opening the paclaige. That time has 
gone by now, as the brands are counterfeited by dealers South and 
West, the fish oftentimes repacked, and poorer qualities substituted in 
brands branded the best. This has become a serious detriment to the 
business, and now there is really no further need of an inspector-gen- 
eral of fish. Of late years the office has become a sinecure, from the 
fact that it has become mixed up in i^olitics, and given to men wlio 
know nothing of the bnsiuess, and whose principal duty is ro receive 
their fee on the number of barrels of mackerel inspected by their several 
deputies. 

'^ There is need of some protection to the many well-disposed, honest 
men engaged in the mackerel and pickled-fish business along the sea- 
coast. As a class they are strictly honest, and take great jjains to pat 
up their fish in the best possible manner, making a conscientious cull, 
which will bear strict investigation, giving a full equivalent for the price 
received, and securing thecoufldeace of the consumer in all cases where 
they are fortunate enough to get the original package. Very many of 
the first-class dealers, West and South, who have a business reputation 
w^hich they value far above the fevv^ dollars which they might make in 
selling inferior articles, send direct to Gloucester for their goods, and in 
this way they get vfhat they pay for and secure their owii trade from im- 
position as far as may be. But it is very difficult to counterbalance the 
other class who make it a business to defraud. Something must be done 
to remedy this evil, and when the fishing inspectorship is abolished, 
tlien we hope the fishing dealers will counsel together and take imme- 
diate and active measures for self-iarotection. Have a law which will 
make it comparatively easy to convict a guilty party of fraud in brands 
or quality. Our corresi)ondent, ' W. S.,' in another column, offers some 
practical ideas on this subject which are worthy of attention." 

A correspondent writes to the Cape Ann Advertiser as follows, under 
date of Portland, Me., February 15, 1875 : 

"I was highly gratified to read in your last issue of a movement on 
foot to abolish the office of general inspector of pickled fish. The 
strongest argument used in its favor last winter in our legislature was 
that our old mother, Massachusetts, had such a law and it worked well, 
and no one complained. Statutes, hundreds of years old, were produced 
to establish this fact, Cut all of no avail. We accomplished our purj^ose 
in defeating it, and the bill to abolish the office was passed almost unan- 
imously. It now only awaits the governor's signature, and then there 
will be abolished a nuisance we have been obliged to suffer for thirteen 
years. The office expired by limitation in this State last May, and 
through the efforts of parties opposed to the office the governor and 
council were persuaded not to make an appointment, thereby giving an 
opportunity to appeal to the legislature. We have suffered no detri- 
ment in not having a general inspector, but have got along much better 
by allowing the deputies to act on their own responsibility. As a proof 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [158] 

of this assertion, I will state that I purchased 23,000 barrels of mackerel, 
and having shipped them, the only deduction called for was $12. I as- 
sure you we feel relieved of this burden, and our friends in New York 
and Philadelphia are not the least afraid to trade here now, notwith- 
standing we have no general inspector." 

An editorial in the same paper on March 5, 1875, says : 

" The hearing on the petition for the abolishment of the oflflce of gen- 
eral inspector of fish came before the senate committee on Friday last. 
Messrs. J, O. Proctor, of this city, Charles Eopes, of Salem, Franklin 
Snow, and others, of Boston, were present, and opposed the petition, 
arguing that without a general inspector there would not be any redress 
for buyers of pickled fish in case of fraud. 

"Mr. George Steele, of this city, was presentto defend the petition, and 
give any information to the committee why it should be abolished. He 
argued that there was not the least necessity of such an office. Each 
packer of fish should be made directly responsible for his own brand, 
and should not be held accountable for pickled fish after they have been 
sold and left his premises. This would aftbrd great protection to 
those in the jjacking business. As the law now operates, it holds out 
inducements for unprincipled dealers to tamper with the brands, or 
take out mackerel and report them short weight, more especially if 
the price decreased after purchasing. If a packer was disposed to cheat, 
he could not follow it up any great length of time, as no one would pur- 
chase of him at full market rates ; consequently his brand would al- 
ways beat a discount, and no man having even the pretense of honor 
about him, could afford to be thus classed among business men, and 
trickery would very soon find its level. He advocated a trade-mark 
which should protect its owner everywhere in the United States, the 
same as x>atent-medicine and other trade-marks protect their owners, 
and make it a crime for any one to counterfeit or interfere with for im- 
proper purposes. He cited instances where such trade-marks were in 
themselves very valuable, as the articles they covered could always be 
relied upon. The paying out of $3,000 to a general inspector of fish, 
who did not know enough of the business to cull a triio of mackerel, he 
considered entirely wrong. The office was not needed. Let insp*ectors 
be appointed by the selectmen of towns or mayofs of cities, to be held 
responsible to the State authorities if need be, and all fees arising 
therefrom be paid into the treasuries of said towns and cities. This 
would be just and satisfactory. Mr. Steele met all the objections of his 
opponents in an able manner, and another hearing was ordered for 
Thursday next, when it is hoped that the entire number, or at least a 
majority of those who signed the petition, will attend, and by their 
presence and voice add testimony toward the abolishment of an office 
which is nothing more or less than a sinecure. 

"The State of Maine has passed a law providing for the appointment 
by the governor of inspectors of fish in those places where pickled fish 



[159] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

are cured or packed for exportation, to liold office five years. These 
inspectors are to make annual returns to the secretary of state." 

In the Advertiser of March 12, 1875, is the following letter written to 
Mr. George Steele, of Gloucester, by Mr. E. G. Willard, and dated Port- 
land, Me., March 1, 1875 : 

" Dear Sir : I noticed the hearing you had Friday before the commit- 
tee, in the Boston Advertiser, and was astonished to see the parties' 
jiames who were present in opposition. We had no opposition from a 
l)urchaser of fish in Maine ; the opposition came from the late general 
inspector and a part of his deputies, who were not disposed to cull the 
fish according to the law of the State. With these parties we had much 
trouble and expensive law suits, in which we beat them; thus showing 
that the decision of the general inspector amounted to nothing. 

" I have been in the business of purchasing pickled fish, as well as dry, 
the last twenty years. The past ten years I have i)urchased one-half of 
the pickled fish packed in the State. • 

" We had no general inspector till I had been in the business seven 
years. During this time we had no trouble about the cull, nor did we 
have any until after we got a general inspector, when trouble commenced, 
and grew worse and worse, till it culminated two years ago, when our 
business stopped altogether; no one would buy here, the cull was so 
poor. 

"The office terminated in this State last May, and we were determined 
not to have another appointed if we could prevent it. The governor and 
council gave us a hearing, and they concluded not to make an appoint- 
ment; and we went on last season without a general inspector, and had 
no trouble. There was a much greater catch last year than the year be- 
fore — 45,000 barrels against 32,000 — and parties that withdrew from the 
market two years ago, returned last year, and have been buying in our 
market since, and some 28,000 barrels were sold last week. A general 
inspector is a general nuisance, and no honest inspector wants a guar- 
dian. . . 

" My ownership in fishing-vessels is large. I have an interest in twenty- 
three vessels. The best argument to use is, let the parties opposed show 
any good the office is to any one ; what benefit any one receives from it. 
Our law was a copy from yours, and a decision of the general inspector 
amounts to nothing ; either party aggrieved can appeal to the courts, 
and the opinion of the general inspector amounts to no more than that of 
an}^ other man, as we i)roved in the cases we had here. Our mackerel 
here are nearly all j^acked in barrels. Several parties here repack in 
halves, quarters, and kits ; Dana & Co., largely for the West. Our depu- 
ties gave no bonds last year, but will now get their commissions from 
the governor, and give bonds to the mayor and aldermen, or selectmen 
of towns, rated according to their business. In fact, we get right back 
where we were thirteen years ago. Our committee was unanimous at 
the first meeting, and the change was put right through and is now a 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [160] 

law; and I will guarantee that there will never be a general inspector 
in this Qtate again." 

The question of abolishing the office of inspector-general of fish came 
before the legislature of Massachusetts in April, 1875, and that office 
was continued. A communication in the Advertiser of June 4, 1875, 
in discussing the wants of Gloucester in the regulation of the trade iu 
pickled fish, says : 

" What Gloucester really wants is a closer relation between producer 
and customer, or, in other words, we want to sell our products directly 
to the man who supplies the customer. We are entitled to the profit 
on our goods that our advantage as producer gives us, without having to 
divide that profit with any middle-men. We want to bring the customer 
here. Now, if we are going to do a regular distributing business as well 
as producing, we must do it on business principles. We must have a 
regular standard qualit}^ of our goods to quote to the trade ; a standard 
that is known and established by law, so that when your customer at a 
distance buys your goods without seeing them, he must know what he is 
buying ; and further, there must be some one iu position when any ques- 
tion shall arise on the quality of the goods, as between buyer and seller, 
who must settle the dispute and whose decision must be binding on both 
jiarties. This position must be filled by a i^erson of large practical expe- 
rience and sound judgment ; and though you call him inspector- general or 
not, 3^ou can confine and limit his powers and duties to this one special 
duty, making him simply referee, with no power to harass or to confiscate. 
The interest of yourself, as well as your customers, demands such pro- 
tection, which must neccessarily be mutual. We want an iusi^ector- 
general just that much and no more. 

" Outside of this State there is practically no inspection law touching 
our goods. So, to more rigidly enforce the law as it stands is to enforce 
it against ourselves and in favor of outsiders. Any law that says to 
the man who packs mackerel in Gloucester, you shall put those fish only 
in such sized f)ackages as are mentioned and no others, no matter if you 
do brand the exact weight and quality on each package, or whether your 
customer desires that size or another, is unnecessarily stringent and 
despotic; especially so when anywhere outside the State the customer 
can be accommodated with the same goods in just such packages as he 
wants. That portion of the law should be abolished. We should have 
the unquestioned right to put our fish in just such packages as our cus- 
tomers want, provided the quality and the quantity is branded on the 
package, as on all other kinds of provisions. 

" To resume : We must not abolish the law ; it is the x)rotection our 
customers have a right to ask. We must not abolish the office of in- 
si^ector-general, for we need him to enforce the law in good faith as well 
as our customers. 

" Let the law be plain and simple. Let the inspector-general be only 
referee for the buyer and seller, and let any man put up his fish in just 



P61] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

such packages as be chooses, with the quality and quantity branded on 
each package. Won't this come nearer what we want than 'no law' or 
too much law*?" 

A seizure of Gloucester pickled mackerel occurred in Boston in the 
fall of 1875. The Advertiser of September 17, 1875, in discussing this 
seizure, says : 

" Washing off the salt which may adhere to recent packed small mack- 
erel, and the draining of the pickle therefrom, would, as we are informed 
by practical inspectors, cause the confiscation of nearly if not every 
barrel examined, that is, if the very letter of the law requiring 200 
pounds of fish was executed. Some might not fall short but a few 
ounces, others as many pounds ; still, whatever the shrinkage, however 
small, the mackerel, under the present law, could be confiscated, and 
thereby come into the hands of the official. * * * 

"It is full time that this law was removed from the statute books, 
So long as it is there and administered, it will prove, in the hands of un- 
principled men, a drawback upon any place engaged in the fisheries. 
It affords a weapon which can be used against fish packers at any time 
by parties who may wish to do them an injury. Not only does the in- 
spector-general and his allies have a chance to seize mackerel, but pur- 
chasers anywhere and everywhere, in case of a sudden decline in prices, 
have only to write to those of whom they purchased : 

" 'Your mackerel are short weight; make me so much allowance on a 
barrel, or back they will come to you.' What protection has the fish 
dealer at headquarters, under such a law ? None at all. Fish with his 
brand upon the barrels may come back at any time unless he will con- 
sent to settle any trumped-up claims. There would not be the least 
objection, if mackerel were examined on the wharves at the time of i^ack- 
ing or shipping. That is the time to make such examination, if any. 
But this getting them away first is perfectly ridiculous, and altogether 
too one-sided to be long borne. 

" Let each packer have his own brand or trade-mark. Allow them 
to put up such sized packages as their customers require, branding the 
weight in a conspicuous place, so that it cannot easily be erased. Then 
each man would stand or fall on his own merits. If there are any wash- 
ing off the salt and draining the pickle — not because the purchaser had 
made com^Dlaint or had any suspicion that he was to be defrauded; but 
the law gives the officials liberty to seize, open, confiscate! And the 
latter put money in their pockets. We are not sorry that this case has 
occurre^, for it needed something of the kind to wake up our people. 
They begin to see this blue law now in a light which never before 
dawned upon them. They begin to realize that at the instance of any 
jealous fish dealers out of the city — and there are such — their frauds in 
the business, they would soon be discovered and honest dealers bene- 
fitted, as the trade would soon learn of them and give their brands the 
preference. Then again, let all sales be made from the wharf or store- 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [162] 

house, the packages to be weighed by a sworn weigher before they are 
shipped, and after that to be at the risk of the buyer. Some such system 
as the above will have to be agreed upon ere the business can be con- 
sidered a really safe one, and the sooner those engaged confer together 
and resolve to have the matter presented before the legislature, with a 
view for the abolishment of the law, the better it will be for all inter- 
ested. Mackerel can be seized and tampered with until their reputa- 
tion is affected, and Gloucester lose the prestige which she is gaining 
so rapidly. Will our business men stand that f Can they suffer it t 
We opine not, and they will say so most emphatically ere long." 

In the spring of 1879 some amendments were made to the Massachu- 
setts inspection laws. One of these amendments permits the packing 
of pickled fish in smallpackages of any size which are properly branded. 
Another amendment repealed the section that required the word " for- 
eign" to be stamped on barrels of dutiable imported pickled fish. 

The Boston Commercial Bulletin in Februarj^ 1879, discussed the 
reasons for abolishing the of&ce of inspector- general, and said, "that 
the whole system of inspection of mackerel at the present time is a per- 
fect farce, and rather than have it carried on as it is, it would be better 
for the trade and the public to have the offlce of inspector-general 
abolished, and the system done away with. In that case the packers 
would do their own branding; and buyers, in making their purchases, 
would place faith in the truthfulness of the brand only according to 
the reputation of the packers." 



VII. STATISTICS OF THE INSPECTION OF MACK- 
EREL FROM 1804 TO 1880. 

[By A. Howard Clark.] 

L.— STATISTICS OF MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND NEW 
HAMPSHIRE, AND TOTAL STATISTICS. 

46. — Statistics of Massachusetts. 

The inspection of pickled mackerel in Massachusetts is exhibited in 
three statements. The first statement shows in detail the number of 
barrels packed in each inspection port of the State during each year from 
1804 to 1881 ; and for the years from 1804 to 1878, was compiled by Mr. 
Alexander Starbuck from the official returns deposited by the inspector- 
generals in the office of the secretary of state of Massachusetts. The 
statistics for the years 1879, 1880, and 1881 are from official documents, 
signed by the inspector-general. From a review of this statement we 
find that in the earlier years of the mackerel fisherj^ nearly forty fish- 
ing ports were engaged in packing mackerel, but during recent years 
the business has been concentrated to a dozen or fifteen places, the 



[163] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

ports of Grloucester and Boston packing by far the greater part of all 
the pickled mackerel put up in the State. 

The second statement shows the total number of barrels of each grade 
of mackerel packed in Massachusetts during each year from 1804 to 1881, 
and also the total value of each year's inspection since the year 1830, 
The quantities of mackerel in this table are from the preceding table. 
It shows substantially the total quantity of pickled mackerel sold for 
exportation from the State as well as for consumption within the State; 
though perhaps 5 per cent, of the total number of barrels packed 
escapes inspection. 

From a review of this statement we see that there has been a very 
great fluctuation in the extent of the mackerel business. The smallest 
number of barrels was i3acked in *814, and the largest number in 1831. 
The year 1851 was a prosperous one, and also the year 1870. During 
the past four or five years an extensive business in fresh mackerel has 
been developed, so that in 1881 about 125,000 barrels were sold in a 
fresh condition. If this, quantity be added to the amount inspected, it 
shows a total catch by Massachusetts vessels nearly equal to that of the 
year 1831. 

The third statement shows the number of barrels of mackerel rein- 
spected in Massachusetts during the years 1850 to 1853, 1859 to 1876, 
1878 to 1881. It represents barrels of mackerel that are repacked in 
smaller packages, and may include fish already accounted for under 
the head of "inspected," while a very small fraction may consist of im- 
ported fish repacked. These statistics are compiled from the official 
documents, signed by the inspector-generals. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [164] 



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REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF PISH AND FISHERIES. [168J 



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HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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[173] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 





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REPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[174] 



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[175] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



S* 









COO'<*<COt-hC0005 

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EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [176] 



lO CD OS 

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[177] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [178] 



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[179] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



• <M"od" 



Ci ■ CD (M 



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EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [180] 



i 


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[181] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 






o o> 



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KEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [182] 



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[183] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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[185] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [186] 



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[187] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [188 J 



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[189] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [190] 
MACKEREL INSPECTION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

Statement II.— Showing the total number of barrels of each quality of pickled mackerel 
inspecteclin Massachusetts from 1804 to 1880, and the total value of each years insueotion 
from 1830 to 1880. 



Year. 



1804- 
1805. 
1806. 
1807. 
3808. 
1809. 
1810. 
1811. 
1812. 
1813. 
1814- 
1815 
1816. 
1817 
1818. 
1819. 
1820. 
1821. 
1822. 
1823. 
1824. 
1825. 
1826. 
1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830 , 
1831. 
1832. 
1833 . , 
1834., 
•1835.. 
1836., 
1837., 
1838.. 
1839.. 
1840.. 
1841. 
1842. 
1843.. 
1844.. 
1845.. 
184G.. 
1847 . . 
1848.. 
1849.. 
1850.. 
1851.. 
1852.. 
1853.. 
1854 . 
1855.. 
1856.. 
1857.. 
1858.. 
1859.. 
I860.. 
1861.. 
1862.. 
1863.. 
1864.. 
1865. . 
1866.. 
1867.. 
1868.. 
1869.. 
1870.. 
1871.. 
1872.. 
1873.. 
11-74. 
1875.. 
1876.. 



Barrels of mackerel inspected. 



1, 631i 


6,226 


1,787 


2, 518i 


2, 563J 


2, 756 


2, 353i. 


2,462 


1, 305i 


2, 4134 


2, 274i 


3,078 


2, 54 Oi 


4,770 


1, 368^- 


6,023 


1, 0004 


2, 1544 


900i 


1,231 


89 


5464 


3, 225J 


5,4564 


8, 694 i 


9, 264i 


10, 4064- 


5, 267A 


14, 410 


11, 16^4 


19, 614 


36, 5214 


12, 455 


34, 8114 


7, 400i 


32, 103i 


20, 035 


66,6814 


19, 804 


62, 0474 


45, 2464 


75,221 


29, 640 


109, 840 


43, 499 


80, 584 


81, 3574 


69 335 


63 2354 


110, 6664 


54 184 


77, 098 


47, 8684 


104, 5694 


70, 198 


171, 186 


28, 679 


97, 2194 


54, 5594 


98, 9274 


80, 433* 


93, 5iH4 


45, 605 


57,2714 


53, 6iJ54 


60, 558 


24, 573 


61, 027 


37, 968i 


28, 588 


22, 217* 


22, 037i 


19, 3514 


11, 049 


23, 747 


10, 649 


29, 363 


22,496 


32, 759 


13, 088 


28, 8434 


22, 515 


28, 083J 


88, 6234 


44, 430f 


70. 005 


104, 1501 


76, 0064 


113, 093i 


79, 9794 


61,404 


81, 962 


88, 401 


44, 909 


90, 7654 


102, 467A 


84, 030i 


67, 0714 


49, 015§ 


24, 584 


30. 595g- 


46, 242i 


29, 3021: 


91, 122g 


89, 333f 


76, 819g- 


84, .519f 


45, 2184 


75, 347f 


21, 929g 


61, 330 


12, 0604 


58, 8281 


122, 837 


70, 8774 


100, 280f 


81, 902f 


78, 38S§ 


67, 9854 


136, 0751^ 


103, 383i 


137, 746i 


153, 723i 


63, c62A 


150, 322g 


36, 3]9ig 


122, 8081"^ 


46, Or!84 


93, 091^4 


42, 262„''n 


72, 924 A- 


92, 0194 


66, 046^;; 


189, 422| 


105, 187fg 


85, 867|5 


71, 86B|Z 


54, 370SS 


83, 687^ 


63, 88854 


112, 97114 


71, 44244 


33, 106| 


19,270iB 


30, 869tg 


96, 7724g 



4,228 

2,907 

4,4894 

3.9104 

3, 4724 

5, 242 

10, 0094 

2, 726" 

1,6:^5 

7034 

7, 3774 

13, 010" 

21,688 

20, 7754 

43, 9754 

68, 3744 
71, 5054 
73, 578" 
63, 1544 
71,183" 

114, 9044 

34, 6.574 
39, 612" 
63, 4224 
94, 695" 

156, 0254 
142, 1644 
96, 5534 

69, 4454 
78, 8924 
91, 924" 
60, 187 
52, 5574 

44. 184 
30, 0134 
20, 091 
21,141 
23, 684 
18, 604 

35, 023 
85. 5934 
65, 076 
71,760§ 

107, 0584 
65, 584 
87, 604 

135, 597-i 
44, 8084 
39, 897 
55, 133f 
90, 1934 
47, 981 1 

38, 2574 

32, 33213 
22, 207-1 
50, 578| 
22, 486 

100, Oil 
102, 601 J 

33, 21 2i 

39, 2663 
41, 784J 
41, 04844 
44, 077^4 
60, 7174 
63, 019J 
68, 3224 -5 
55, 6O34 
37. 795sg 
73, 966iV 
73, 424s5 
93,4814g 



Total value. 



Total. 



21, 658 

4144 

2,210" 

19, 843| 

3, 378J 

1, 338f 

178 

711 

1, 9924 

4,1181 

3, 441£- 

633J 

5621 

280 

144 

244|- 

2694 

4i8.Ji 

6254 

3, 549J 

334 

38-4 

1154 

3761 



4, 261^5 
4, 818i 



7, 8574 

8, 573* 
8. 226-1 
9,305 
7, 6294 
8,825 

12, 5524 

17,401 

5,881 

3, 756* 

1, 339" 

16,0594 

30, 969 

37, 362 

46, 348 

100, 111 

115,641 

111,0094 

160, 2944 

145, 006 

191, 6.504 

254, 384i 

158. 740* 

190, 3044, 

237, 3244 

225, 977 

308,4634 

383, .5484 

222, 452 

222, 932* 

2.52, 8794 

194,8004 

174,4104 

138,1.574 

110, 7404 

74, 2684 
50,4914 
55, 537 

75, 543 
64. 451 
86, 3814 

202, 302| 
179, 511f 
251,9174 
300, 130f 
208, 950 
242. 572 
329, 2444 
198, 120 
133, 3404 
135, 349J 
211, 956 J 
214, 312f 
168, 7051 
IS^eoCf'Sj 
99, 715| 
235, G85J 
194, 283f 
260, 864| 
306, 94.2t8; 
274, 3574 
256, 7964 
231, 696,5. 
210,314,15 
180.0.5644 
234, 210f 
318, 521f 
259, 416J- 
181, 956bV 
18.5, 7484 
258, 379f| 
130, 06254 
225, 9424^ 



[191] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHEEY. 

MACKEREL INSPECTION IN MASSACHUSETTS.— Continued. 
Statement II. — Showing the total number of barrels inspected, ^c — Continued. 





Barrels of mackerel inspected. 


Total value. 




1. 


2. 


3. 


4. 


Total. 


1877 


18, 015J 

14, 0945 
9, O.'cg 

20, 4534 

15, 598i 


37, 286|g 
48, 170g 
91, 113^ 
104, 434 J 
139, 586 


37, 700J5 
70, 175J 
54, 806i 
99, 554iJ 
98, 861J 


12, 094| 
11, 785i 
352J 
19, 51 6 J 
2, 127§ 


105, 097/^ 

al44, 226| 

*155, 297§ 

243, 958J- 

256, 1734 


$1, 137, .516 
1 0'i4 144 


1878 


1879 




1880 


1 474 152 


1881 


1 601 081 







(I The reports of the Boston fish linrean give the number of barrels packed in Massachusetts in 
1878, 144,205 b.arrels ; in 1879, 150,125 barrels ; in 1880, 255,986 barrels ; in 1881, 269,495 barrels. These 
tiguies for 1880 and 1881 are probably nearer than the inspection returns to the actual product of the 
fishery, since some 5 per cent, of the catch escapes inspection. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[192] 



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[193] history of the mackeeel fishery. 

47. — Statistics of ^iaine. 

The mackerel inspection of tlie State of Maine is exliibited in two 
statements, showing the total number of barrels of pickeled mackerel 
packed within the State for a series of years. 

The first statement shows in detail the number of barrels of each 
grade of mackerel inspected in the several inspection ports of the State 
during the years 1804 to 1820, and from 1864 to 1878, and was compiled 
by Mr. Starbuck from the original returns of the inspectors, deposited 
in the ofiBce of the secretary of state. Until the year 1820 Maine was 
a district of Massachusetts, but since that year has been a separate 
State. For the years from 1820 to 1864 the original returns could not 
be found, and it is probable that the returns of many years between 
1864 and 1878 exhibit not more than 50 per cent, of the actual number 
of barrels of mackerel packed in the State. 

The second statement shows the total number of barrels of each grade 
of mackerel packed in the State during a series of years, and is com- 
piled from the following sources : 1804 to 1820, from the official inspec- 
tion returns; 1825, 1834, 1836 to 1838, and 1851, from Sabine's report 
on the American fisheries ; 1864 to 1878, from the official inspection re- 
turns; 1879 to 1881, from the annual reports of the Boston fish bu- 
reau. 

A review of the statement indicates that the mackerel industry of 
the State was more extensively prosecuted in 1881 than during any pre- 
vious year. 



KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [194] 



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[195] 



HISTORY OP THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [196] 



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[197] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [198] 



•« 



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[199] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [200] 



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[201] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



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REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [202] 
MACKEREL INSPECTION IN MAINE. 

Statement II. — Showing the total numher of harrels of each quality of piclcled maclcerel 
inspected in Maine from 1804 to 1820, and from 1864 to 1881. 



Tear. 


Barrels of mackerel inspected. 


1. 


2. 


3. 


4. 


Total. 


1804 .' 


19 

212 
130 
406J 

43 

14 

72 
100 
134 

461 


203 
158 
116* 
424 

66 

22J 
380 
186 
497 

144 






2''2 


1805 


83 




403 


1806 




2464 
1, 599i 
109 


1807 


769 




1808 




1809 


4 

44 

203 

248J 

15 

10 

24 

2 

90 

311 

1,766 

4,037 




404 
496 


1810 




1811 




489 


1812 




8794 
76 


1813 




1814 




10 


1815 


75 
274 
300 
381 
999 
165i 


72 

53 

230 

170 

2,557 

788J 




171 


1816 




329» 


1817 




6"0 


1818 




862 


1819 




5,322 
4 991 


1820 




1825 




33 065 


1834 










40 661 


1836 










25 228 


1837 










22 462 


1838 










24 312 


1851 










31 472 




14, 677J 
34, 7055 
31, 711 
21, 0605 
17, 9465 
13, eM^^j 

13, 135^=;, 

23, 39117- 
10, 013-J 
12, 7693 
25, 193J 
2, 221 
1, 9051 
5, 792J 
1, 478§ 


30, 1711 

13, 868 
6, 141| 
8,043 
6,363 

12, 410/^ 

32, 613,3, 

18, 41715 

6, 162J 

6, 8452^ 

14, 326 
1,433^ 
9, 2931 
9, 941^ 
5,874 


4, 881J 

5, 6355 

6, 756g 
4, 320| 
4, 4641 

10, 201Jg 
6, 555^ 
6, 793| 
5,626 
2,579 
4,222 
5,848 

11, 2304 
9, 423i 

16, 082^5 


674 
6 

i8i 

250-1 


49, 7974 
54, 2151 
44. 627 J 
33' 675| 


1865 


1866 

1867 


1868 


28, 774J 
37, 166J 
52, 304i\s 


1869 


939J 


1870 


1871 




48, 603ij"i5 
22 173 


1872 


371 


1873 


22 \Q'i\% 


1874 




43 741| 


1875 




9, 502^ 

22, 4294 

22, 157| 

a 23, 434f 

& 58, 249 

6 86 338 


1876 




1877 




1878 




1879 




1880 










1881 










6116 762 















a The returns of the Boston Fish Bureau give the inspection this year 48.263 barrels. 

6 From returns of the Boston Fish Bureau. The State inspection returns for 1879 could not he found. 
For 1880 the returns bj' the inspectors to the secretary of state give the number of barrels at 72,71425, 
which is believed to be inaccurate. 

48. — Statistics of new Hampshire. 

The statistics of mackerel inspection in New HamxDsliire are in a single 
statement which shows the total number of barrels of mackerel packed 
in Portsmouth, the only inspection port of the State, during the years 
1830 to 1852, 1861 to 1881. These facts are compiled from the following 
sources: 1830 to 1852, from Sabine's Eeport on the American Fisheries; 
1861 to 1877, from original returns of inspectors copied by Mr. Starbuck; 
1879 to 1881, from official documents signed by the secretary of state of 
New Hampshire. In a foot-note is given the number of barrels packed 
in the Slate during the years ending December 31, 1878 to 1881, as re- 
ported to the Boston Fish Bureau. 



[203] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



Statement showing the total nuviber of barrels of picJcled macJcerel inspected in Neiv Hamp- 
shire from 1830 to 1852, and from 18(51 to 1881.a 



1830 
1831 
1832 
1833 
1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 
1844 



Barrels. 



20, 300 

21, 450 
21, 700 
19, 375 
18, 200 
15, 300 

9,450 
5, 225 
3,420 
700 
630 
1,100 
1, 050 
1,175 
1,240 



Tear. 



1845 
1846 
1S47 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 

1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 



Barrels. 



1,075 
1,369 
2,008 
2,400 
2,867 
3,125 
3,073 
2,140 



15 
65 

300 
45 

200 



Tear. 



1867 


572 


1868 




1869 


157 


1870 


3 700 


1871 


2 071 


1872 


1 878 


1873 


2,398 


1874 


5 519 


1875 


3 415 


1876 


5 351 


1877 


643 


1878 


62,252 
63,435J 
6 5,967 
65.385 


1879 


1880 


1881 



Barrels. 



a The inspection year ends on May 1, from 1869 to 1877, and on June 1 in subsequent years. 

6 The annual report of the Boston Fish Bureau gives the number of barrels packed in New Hamp- 
shire in years ending December 31, 1878, 4,000 barrels; 1879, 6,225 barrels; 1880, 7,550 barrels; 1881, 
5,400 barrels. 

49. — Statistics of the united states. — totals. 

The mackerel industry of tlie United States, as far as pickled mack- 
erel is concerned, is exhibited in a series of statements which show the 
total number of barrels packed in the United States, and the im- 
ports of mackerel from the Dominion of Canada. Several statements 
gathered from Canadian sources are also included to show the mack- 
erel industry of the United States as compared with that of Canada. 

Statements I to III show the number of vessels employed by the New 
England States in the Bay of Saint Lawrence and American coast 
fisheries, and the total catch of salt mackerel by these fleets during the 
years 1879, 1880, and 1881. 

Statement IV shows the quantity and value of pickled mackerel pro- 
duced by the fisheries of the United States for the years 1831, 1834 to 
1838, 1851, 1864 to 1881. From this statement it appears that more 
mackerel were packed in the year 1881 than in any year, with the excep- 
tion of 1831, in the history of this fishery. If to the quantity of mack- 
erel salted there be added the quantity sold in a fresh condition, which 
was from 150,000 to 175,000 barrels, the total catch of mackerel by the 
American fleet in 1881 represents not less than 150,000,000 pounds of 
round fish, a larger amount by 30,000,000 pounds than was ever before- 
taken in a single year. 

Statement V shows the total quantity and value of pickled mack- 
erel produced by the fisheries of the United States as compared with 
the production of Canadian fisheries during the years 1873 to 1880, from 
which it appears that during this period the United States have pro- 
duced 1,809,333 barrels, valued at $16,083,453, and the Canadian fish- 
eries have produced 1,320,217 barrels, valued at $12,717,576, making the 
total for both countries 3,129,550 barrels, valued at $28,801,029. Of 
the American production not over 260,000 barrels, valued at about 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [204] 

$2,500,000 were taken by American vessels in the Bay of Saint Law- 
rence. 

Statement VI shows the number of bari'els of pickled mackerel re- 
ceived at Boston from IJnited States and foreign ports during each 
month of the years 1878 to 1881, also the total receipts during the year 
1877. From this statement it appears that the mackerel industry of 
Boston is increasing in importance, especially in the receipts of Ameri- 
can mackerel. 

Statement YII shows the price per barrel of the several grades ot 
mackerel during the first week of September in each year from 1830 to 
1881. These values may perhaps be generally taken as the average 
value for the year, though in some years, as in 1881, the price rapidly 
increased later in the year, when a large part of the product was placed 
upon the market. 

Statement YIII shows the number of barrels of pickled mackerel im- 
ported from the British E'orth American provinces during the years 
1821 to 1841, and from 1850 to 1881, also the value of each year's impor- 
tation from 1850 to 1881. 

Besides the quantity of mackerel imported in 1872 from these prov- 
inces there were 1,504 barrels, valued at $11,214, received from England, 
Scotland, British West Indies, France, and Portuguese possessions, 
making the total importation 79,235 barrels, valued at $449,625. In 
the year 1873, 1,191 barrels mackerel, valued at $4,679, were received 
-from the Danish West Indies and England, making the total importa- 
tion for that year 90,889 barrels, valued at $610,457. The entire impor- 
tation of pickled mackerel for the years subsequent to 1873 has been 
from the British North American iDrovinces. 

The quantities of dutiable mackerel imported since June 30, 1873, and 
included in the tabulated statement, are as follows : 1874, 190 barrels, 
$1,550; 1875, 59 barrels, $553 5 1876, 7 barrels, $48; 1877, 14 barrels, 
$148; 1878, 6 barrels, $67; 1879, 2 barrels, $14; 1880, none specified; 
1881, 9 barrels, $97 ; total, 287 barrels, $2,477. The quantities of pickled 
mackerel imported from the provinces free of duty under the treaty of 
Washington since June 30, 1873, are as follows: 1874, 89,503 barrels, 
$800,920; 1875, 77,479 barrels, $584,283 ; 1876, 76,531 barrels, $695,412; 
1877, 43,066 barrels, $372,260; 1878, 102,148 barrels, $907,246; 1879, 
101,420 barrels, $649,721; 1880, 112,468 barrels, $493,059; 1881, 120,288 
barrels, $614,729; total, 722,903 barrels, $5,117,630. ' 

Statement IX shows the quantity and value of pickled mackerel im- 
ported into the United States from the British provinces during the 
years 1856 to 1872, being the time of the operation of the reciprocity 
treaty, and from the close of that treaty to the beginning of the treaty 
of Washington. The statement also shows what would have been the 
duty on these imports during the period of reciprocity. These statistics 
are compiled from sheets published by W. E. Clark, and believed to 
be copied from United States custom-house returns. 



[205] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Statement X sliows tlie quantity and value of foreign pickled mack- 
erel entered for consumption in the United States during the years ended 
June 30, 1872 to 1881. Comparing this Statement with statement VIII, 
it appears that the total imports from the Dominion of Canada, from 

1872 to 1881, amount to 800,619 barrels, valued at $6,164,295, and the 
total consumption of Canadian mackerel during the same period amounts 
to 836,218 barrels, valued at $5,900,649. This shows that nearly the 
entire importation of foreign mackerel is consumed in this country; and 
such would naturally be the case since the imports are the best qualities 
of Canadian mackerel that are too fat for export to the West Indies or 
other foreign countries. 

Statements XI to XV, inclusive, show the production of mackerel by 
the fisheries of the Dominion of Canada, and the exports of mackerel 
from that country during a series of years. They are compiled from the 
annual reports of the department of marine and fisheries of the Domin- 
ion of Canada, the documents and proceedings of the Halifax Commis- 
sion, and a report by United States Consul-General Jackson, of Halifax, 
on the fisheries of Canada, and their value to the United States, printed 
in commercial reports of th€ Department of State for January, 1881. 

The first three of these statements show the total value of pickled and 
fresh mackerel, the value of mackerel exported to all countries, and the 
value of mackerel exported to the United States during the period from 

1873 to 1879. From these statements we see that the loroduction is valued 
at $10,654,528, and the exports amount to $5,481,493, of which the United 
States receives nearly three-fourths, or $4,090,139 worth. Of the entire 
production only $115,918 worth of fresh or canned mackerel is included, 
of which $26,018 worth was exported to the United States, as follows: 
1873, none specified ; 1874, from Xova Scotia, 26,390 pounds fresh, $2,689 ; 
1875, from Xova Scotia, 1,008 pounds fresh, $126; 1876, from Xova 
Scotia, 22,760 pounds fresh, $4,632 ; 1877, from Xova Scotia, 8j976 pounds 
preserved, $1,051; from is'ew Brunswick, 703 pounds fresh, $62; 1878, 
from Xova Scotia, 54,200 pounds fresh, $1,266, 4,365 pounds preserved, 
$4,287; from New Brunswick, 87,883 pounds fresh, $5,099, 9,448 pounds 
preserved, $693 ; from Quebec, 10,738 pounds fresh, $654; 1879, from 
I^Tova Scotia, 39,700 pounds fresh, $2,632, 266 pounds preserved, $818; 
from Xew Brunswick, 52,786 pounds fresh, $2,009; total value, $26,018. 

The total yield of fish and fish products, by the fisheries of Canada, 
from 1873 to 1879, as given in official documents, was valued at 
$82,094,962, of this amount $40,802,322 worth was exported to all coun- 
tries, including $11,695,530 worth exported to the United States. 

Statement XIV shows the quantity and value of mackerel produced 
by the Canadian fisheries from 1869 to 1880, including those of Prince 
Edward Island since its entry into the Dominion in 1873. 

Statement XV shows the quantity and value of pickled mackerel 
'Exported from the Dominion of Canada to the United States from 1873 
to 1879, also from Prince Edward Island from 1857 to 1873, and from 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [206] 

Newfoundland from 1853 to 1876. From this statement it appears that 
the total exports of pickled mackerel to the United States amounts to 
528,272 barrels, valued at $4,068,925. Comparing this quantity and 
value with the imports into the United States during the same period 
as given in Statement VIII, by the United States Bureau of Statistics, 
we find the imports amount to 580,123 barrels, valued at $4,618,000. 
Part of the discrepancy between those two statements may be ac- 
counted for from the fact that the United States returns are for the fis- 
cal years ended June 30, while the Canadian returns may be for the 
calendar years. 

NEW ENGLAND MACKEREL FLEET, 1879. 

Statement I. — Showing tJie number of vessels and their catch of salt mackerel in the Bay 
of Saint Laivrence and American shore mackerel fisheries for the season of 1879, as re- 
Xjorted to the Boston Fish Bureau. 

[Compiled from aminal report for 1S79. ] 





Vessels. 


Barrels of mackerel. 




Bay. 


Shore. 


Total. 


Bay. 


Shore. 


Total. 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


6 


2 

8 

85 

35 

6 

22 

5 

7 

11 

10 

2 


8 

8 

111 

39 
6 

22 
5 
7 

11 

11 
2 


721 


870 


1,591 






26 
4 


7,125 
1,310 


47, 085 
48, 103 

4,900 
17, 200 

4,354 

5,688 
10, 938 

7,290 
301 


54, 210 
49,413 

4,900 
17, 200 

4 354 






Wellfleet 












Chatham 






5 688 








10, 938 




1 


240 




301 










Total 


37 


193 


230 


9,396 


146, 729 


156, 125 




NEW HAMPSHIEE. 




9 


9 




6,225 


6, 225 








MAINE. 

Deer Isle * . 




3 
3 
6 
9 

60 


3 
3 
6 
9 

65 














1,020 

1,278 

3,951 

50, 600 


1 020 








1 278 


Booth Bay 






3' 951 


Portland 


5 


1,400 


52, 000 




Total 


5 
42 


81 
283 


86 
325 


1,400 
10, 796 


56, 849 
209, 803 


58, 249 
220, 599 







* Vessels packed out away from home. 

t Numerous vessels packed out in addition to home fleet. 

+ "Vpssp1s mostlv naclied out away from home. 



m 



[2071 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 






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EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [208] 






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[209] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE UNITED STATES. 

Stateiment IV. — Showinq the number of barrels and value of piclded mackerel produced by 
fisheries of the United States for the years 1831, 1834 to'miS, 1851, 1864 to 1881.^ 



Tears. 



Massachu- 
setts. 



Maine. 



'Nevr Hamp- 
shire. 



Total quantity and 
value. 



1831 
1834 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1851 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
18.74 
1875 
1870 
1877 
1878 
1879 

igfeo 

1881 



Barrels. 

283, 548J 
252, 879i 
174, 410 
138, 1.571 
110, 740 J 
329, 244J 
274, 357i 
256, 7965 
231, 696/g 
210, 314Jh 

180, 056iJ 
234, 2105 
318, 521g 
259, 41 6 J 

181, 956^5 
185, 748i 
258, 37911 
130, 062|J 
225, 94215 
105, 097 1% 
144, 205 
156,125 
255, 986 
269, 495 



Barrels. 
44, 951J 
40, 661 
25, 228 
22,462 
24, 312 
31,472 
49, 797* 
54,21.51 
44, 627^ 
33, 675J 
28, 774^ 
37, 166i 
52, 304yV 
48, 6035% 
22, 173 
22, 193^5 
43, 7411 
9, 502J 
22, 4294 
22, 157i 
48, 263 
58, 249 
86, 338 

116, 762 



Barrels. 

21,450 

18, 200 

9,450 

5, 225 

3, 420 

3,073 

300 

45 

200 

572 



157 
3,700 
2,071 
1,878 
2,398 
5,519 
3, 415 

5, 351 
643 

4,000 

6, 225 

7, 350 
5,400 



Barrels. \ 


449, 


950 


311 


740* 


209, 


088 


165, 


844i 


138, 


4724- 


363, 


780^ 


324, 


454J- 


311 


0561 


276 


.52311 


244 


561,3; 


208, 


830IJ 


271, 


5:14^ 


374, 


525/^ 


310, 


091i 


206, 


007,V 


210 


3505^ir 


307, 


640-iJ 


142, 


9803^ 


253, 


72242- 


127, 


898/n 


196 


468 


220, 


599 


349, 


674 


391, 


657 



Value. 
$1, 862, 793 
1, 437, 123 

1, .520, 069 
965, 214 

1, 156, 243 

2, 484, 679 
7, 001. 098 
5, 729, 851 
5, 161, 261 
3, 174, 130 

2, 924, 987 

3, 762, 985 
4, 400, 563 
2, 668, 851 

2, 205, 761 
3, 167, 948 

3, 163, 701 
1, 439, 315 
1, 853, 103 
1, 384, 223 
1, 408, 675 

1, 268, 444 
a, 398, 004 

2, 447, 5.56 



* The figures for the years 1834 to 1838 antl 1851 are from Sabine's Report on the American Pisheries ; 
for the years 1864 to 187'7 from the State inspection I'eturns ; for the years 1878 to 1881 from the annual 
reports of the Boston Fish Bureau. 



MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE DOMINION 

OF CANADA. 

Statement V. — Showing the number of barrels and value of piclcled maclcerel produced by 
the fisheries of the United States from 1873 to 18sl, and by the fisheries of the Dominion 
of Canada fi-om 1873 to 1880. 



Tear. 


United States. 


Dominion of Canada. 


Total. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


1873 


210, 35o;3; 

307, 640|-^ 
142, 980iJ 
253, 722§f 
127, 898^% 
196, 408 
220, 599 
349, 674 
391, 657 


$3, 167, 948 
3, 163, 701 
1,439,315 
1, 853, 103 
1, 384, 223 
1,408,675 

1, 268, 444 

2, 398, 044 
2, 447, 556 


159, 530 
161, 096 
123, 654* 
104, 356" 
163,916 
183, 919 
190, 076* 
233, 669" 


$1,615,552 
1, 559, 551 
l,23ii,545 
992, 794 
1, 639, 160 
1, 766, 226 
■ 1, 745, 490 
2, 162, 258 


369, 8865^ 
468, 736-;^ 
263, 6341-J- 
358, 078|5 
291, SU^% 
380,387" 
410, 6754 
583, 343" 


$4, 783, 500 
4, 723, 252 
2, 675, 860 
2 845 897 


1874 


1875 

1876 


1877 


3' 023! 383 
3 174 901 


1878 


1879 


3 013 9-34 


1880 


4 560 302 


1881 














Total 1873 to 1881. 


2, 200, 99013- 


18, 531, 009 




















Total 1873 to 1880. 


1, 809, 333f 3 


16, 083, 453 


1, 320, 217 


12, 717, 575 3, 129, 550ig 


28, 801, 029 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [210] 

MACKEREL INDUSTRY OF BOSTON, MASS. 

Statement VI. — Sliotving the number of barrels of pickled mackerel received in Boston 
from home and foreign ports, from 1877 to 1S81, as reported to the Boston Fish Bureau. 

[Compiled from annual reports of Boston Pish Bureau.] 





1877. 


1878. 


1879. 


1880. 


1881. 




M ft 


a . 

"St; 




1- 


(51 


PI 

■s-g 


H 


a 

"S t! 

1- 


1° 
M ft 


Mop 

'S"*H 








272 

371 

842 

740 

3, 077- 

2,299 

774 

5, 472 

4,533 

7,025 

5,039 

1,437 

32,458 


480 

1,132 

1,555 

50 

2, 160* 

5,037 

5,341 

-21, 495 

12, 109 

15, 092 

9, 383 

4,405 


611 
1,417 
3,868 
1,606 
1,183 
2,843 
1,505 
5,158 
5,035 
4,934 
2, 425 
8,233 

49, 413 


3,484 
1,490 
4, 577 
1,878 
95 
779 
6,450 

12, 290 

13, 878 
25, 600 
12, 180 

3,512 


117 

709 

331 

184 

945* 

1,679 

4,166 

10,158 

9,412 

4,934 

2, 425 

1,701 

54, 002 


3,576 

3,947 

2,012 

138 

178 

6, 283 

8, 222 

14, 891 

19, 713 

30, 033 

11, 532 

5,205 


211 

1,202 

3,252 

464 

2,161 

3,269 

10, 943 

12. 678 

20, 868 

10, 391 

6,574 

1,640 

69, 669 


1,179 








2,065 
7,269 














4,482 
1,725 














2,366 








5, 766 








3,931 








12, 902 








11, 550 








5,356 








3,259 


Catcli of Boston 
fleet 


(20, 139) 
55, 668 






Total 


86, 356 


64, 339 


78, 689 


83, 231 


84, 213 


90, 763 


105, 730 


143, 319 


61, 850 


Grand total. 


142, 024 


143 


028 


167 


444 


196, 493 


205, 172 



*New. 

PRICE OF MACKEREL IN MASSACHUSETTS. 

Statement VII. — Shoivivg the price x^er barrel of each grade of pickled mackerel in th 
first week of September, from 1830 to 1881. 

[Compiled from tlie files of the Gloucester Telegraph and the Cape Ann Advertiser.] 



Tear. 


No. 1. 


No. 2. 


No. 3. 


Tear. 


No.l. 


No. 2. 


No. 3. 


1830 


$5 00 
5 75 
5 00 
5 72 
5 72 
7 00 
9 00 
7 75 

11 00 

12 .50 
V2 75 

12 00 
9 00 

10 12 
9 50 

13 00 
9 12 

12 75 
9 00 

12 00 
10 12 

10 00 

9 no 

11 50 
15 00 
19 00 

13 00 
35 00 
15 50 


$4 50 
4 75 
4 00 
4 72 
4 72 
6 00 

8 00 
6 50 

9 25 
10 50 
10 50 
10 00 

6 00 
8 12 

7 50 

10 50 
6 25 

8 25 

6 00 

7 00 

8 12 

6 50 

7 00 

9 50 
12 25 

11 00 

8 00 

12 50 
12 50 


$2 62 
2 62 
2 75 

2 85 

3 35 

4 00 

5 00 

4 12 

5 50 
7 00 

5 50 

6 00 

4 00 
6 00 

5 50 

6 87 

3 87 

4 25 
3 37 
3 50 

5 00 
5 12 
5 75 

7 50 

5 00 

6 25 
6 00 

8 50 
8 50 


1859 


$14 50 

16 00 
8 50 
8 25 

14 00 
30 00 
22 00 

22 75 

17 00 

17 00 

23 00 
21 50 
23 00 

10 50 

11 25 
11 50 
14 50 

14 75 
20 00 

15 00 

13 25 

14 00 
36 25 

15 00 
36 50 

18 00 
[16 00] 

14 00 
14 00 


$12 59 

8 50 

4 50 

6 00 

9 25 
20 00 
15 00 
13 25 
12 25 
33 00 
11 50 

11 00 
9 75 

7 50 

7 25 
9 25 
9 50 

12 25 
12 25 

8 00 

9 00 

11 00 
10 25 

6 75 

12 50 
8 00 

5 00 

7 00 

6 00 


$8 50 


]83] 


1860 


5 00 


1832 


1861 


2 75 


1833 


1862 


4 50 


1834 


1863 


6 50 


1835 


1864 




1836 


1865 

1866 

1867 


9 75 


1837 

1838 


7 50 


1839 


1868 




1840 


1869 




1841 


1870— bay 

shore 

1871— bay 




3842^ 




1843 


5 50 


1844 ... 




6 25 


1845 


1872— bay 


7 00 


1846 


shore 

1873— bay 




1847 


9 00 


1848 


shore 




1849 


1874-bay 


7 00 


1850 


7 00 


1851 


1875— bay 




1852 . . 


7 50 


1853 


1876 


5 50 


18.54 


1877 

1878 

1879 , 

1880 


8 00 


18.55 


5 00 


1856 


3 00 


1857 


4 00 


1858 , 


1881 


4 00 









[211] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



UNITED STATES IMPORTS OF PICKLED MACKEREL. 

Statement VIII. — Showing the number of 'barrels of picJcled mackerel hnporied into the 
United States from the British North American Proinnces from 1S21 to 1841, and from 1850 
to 1881, and also the value of same from 1850 to 1881.* 



Tear. 


Barrels. 


Tear. 


Barrels. 


Tear. 


Barrels. 


Value. 1 

1 


Tear. 


Barrels. 


Value. 






1834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 


223 

8, 153 

6,037 

1,256 

182 

7,046 

11, 823 

10, 877 


1850 
1851 

1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 


75, 326 
102, 394 
78, 334 
54, 407 
61,815 
80, 012 

62, 606 
49, 477 
67, 345 
49, 086 

63, 549 
38, 023 
37, 710 
62, 767 
80, 665 

120, 067 


$335,309 1 
548, .5.53 
327, 613 ; 
329,210 ' 
470, 916 
427, 283 
492, 802 1 
457,074 
664, 852 
565,029 
588, 969 
269, 399 
247, 678 1 
402, 178 
599,109 
957, 411 


1866 
1867 
1868 
1859 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 


56,613 


iftnPS y.Trt 






77 503 1 6~-T n9fi 






41, 635 

29, 701 

.30, 712 

29, 333 

77, 731 

89, 698 

89, 693 

77, 538 

76, 538 

43, 080 

102, 154 

101, 422 

112, 468 

129, 297 


364 429 


1821 
1822 
1823 
1824 

1825 
1826 


7 

387 

67 

790 

242 

87 

39 

38 

95 

391 

4,552 

32 

20 


327, 079 
346, !)56 
254, 980 
438, 410 
605, 778 
802 470 


1827 






385 S36 


18'8 






695. 460 
379 408 


1829 






1830 






907 3!3 


1831 






649 735 


1832 






493 059 


1833 






614, 820 









*Tlie statistics in this statement are obtained from the following sources : For the years 1821 to 1841 
fi'om Sabine's "Report on the American Fisheries " ; for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1850 to 18.55, 
1867, 1868, and 1872 to 1881, from the annual reports of the United States Bureaix of Statistics; for the 
years 1856 to 1866, 1869, 1870, and 1871, from sheets published in 1879 by W. E. Clark, and believed to be 
compiled from United States custom-house records. Mr. Clark's statistics are the most reliable we 
have obtained for the years for which we quote them, as the returns of the United States Bureau of 
Statistics do not give the desired details lor those years. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FI8HEEIES. [212] 



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[213] 



HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



"a 
o 
H 


P 




212 
954 
690 
172 
098 
040 
420 
534 
330 
134 
226 
438 
028 
402 
424 
066 
648 


Ol 

irf" 

00 


LO00rt-00t>:DlC"Of— 0«00:OC5i-iOO»0 
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62, 606 
40, 477 
67, 345 
40, 086 

63, 649 
38, 023 

37, 710 
62, 767 
80,665 

120, 067 
56, 013 
59, 219 

38, 014 
29, 701 
30,712 
29, 333 
62, 824 


ri 

a 

o 




$1, 778 

428 

218 

680 

883 

464 

296 

448 

850 

5,900 

190 

884 

310 

6,036 

2, 730 

5,220 

2, 446 

5,526 


CO 


s 


$5, 463 

1,406 

972 

2, 197 

1,049 

1,993 

523 

928 

2,603 

24, 747 

991 

3,773 

1,308 

33, 275 

17, 563 

30, 017 

11,725 

14, 886 


o 
o 
to" 


1 


889 
214 
109 
840 
441 
232 
148 
224 
425 

2,980 

95 

442 

155 

3,318 

1, 365 
2,610 
1,223 

2, 703 


CO 

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03 

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$19, 272 
6,024 
9,700 
3,094 
4,610 
5,346 
4,426 
4,324 
1,932 
8, 032 
1,068 
2,974 
326 
376 
1,472 
2,282 
1,556 


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9,636 

3,312 

4,850 

1,847 

2,305 

2,673 

2,213 

2, 162 

966 

4,466 

534 

1,487 

163 

188 

736 

1,141 

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EEPOKT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [214] 
CONSUMPTION OF FOREIGN MACKEREL IN THE UNITED STATES. 

Statement X. — Showing the nuniber of barrels and value of foreign mackerel entered for 
consumption in the United States, 1872 to 1881. 

[Compiled from reports of United States Bureau of Statistics.] 



Tear ended June 30- 



Pree of duty. 



Dutiable. 



Total. 



Barrels. 



a«72. 

1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 



89, 3761 
78, 091i 
76, 582 i^f, 
44, 169-^ 
101, 995 
10], 450 
112, 3854 
120, 352J- 



Total 

Duty i>aid . 



724, 403i%'5j 



Value. 



$793, 764 
586, 825 
695, 847 
373, 792f 
907, 013 
650, 048,: 
492, 807f 
6I5,063t 



Barrels. 
39, 572 

70, mu\ 

1, 496i- 
41 
16 
8* 
6 

O 63 

12 

8* 



5, 115, 160iJ5l 111, SUj%% 785, 489/5% 
$223,6291^5 



Yalue. 

$247, 796i%'% 

523, 3571=5% 

13, 325 

524 

70 

105 

67 

127 



Barrels. 

39, 572 
70, 651,'^ 
90, 873J- 
78, 132J 
76, 598i%% 
44, 178 

102, 001 

101, 4.52i%\; 

112, 397|- 

120, 361 



836, 218yi 



Value. 
$247, 796J 
523, 357f 
807, 089 
587, 349 
695, 917 
373, 8S7i= 
907, 080 
650, 067J 
492, 9:!4,'^ 
615, 161 1< 



5, 900, 649jfif5 



KoTE. — All tbe consumption of foreign mackerel as given in the above table for tbe year 1877, and 
subsequent to that time, and nearly all, if not the entire consumption for the year prior to 1877, is the 
product of the British Korth American provinces. 

MACKEREL FISHERY OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 



Statement XI. 



-Showing the total value of the production of the mackerel fishery of the 
Dominion of Canada, 1873 to 1879. 



Year. 


Quebec. 


Nova Scotia. 


New- 
Brunswick. 


Prince Ed- 
ward Island. 


Total. 


1873 


$61, 700 
72, 780 


$1, 411, 676 
1, 234, 649 


$35, 447 
51, 280 


$111, 512 
221,761 


$1, 620, 335 


1874 


1, 580, 470 


1875 


1, 245, 752 


J 876 


49, 750 
53, 579 
87, 360 
60, 420 


714, 263 
1, 155, 140 
1, 307, 611 
1, 019, 640 


30, 610 

54, 476 
97, 372 
114, 676 


203, 064 
404, 620 
291, 976 
563, 411 


997, 687 


1877 


1, 667, 815 


1878 


1, 784, 319 


1879 


1, 758, 150 






Total 1873 to 1879 










10, 654, 528 













MACKEREL EXPORTS OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 

Statement XII. — Showing the total value of mackerel exported from the Dominion of 
Canada to all countries, 1873 to 1879. 



Year. 



Quebec. 



Nova Scotia. 



New 
Brunswick. 



Prince Ed- 
ward Island. 



Total. 



1873 

1874 , 

1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1879 

Total 1873 to 1879 



f 2, 076 

984 

953 

206 

65 

1,078 

1,605 



7,027 



$673, 894 
615, 992 
509, 117 
582, 155 
442, 306 
677, 550 
651, 037 



$10, 232 
25, 123 
30, 338 
56, 979 
46, 179 
85, 239 
83, 946 



4, 152, 051 



338, 036 



$29, 830 
73, 329 
252, 839 
108, 332 
98, 383 
279, 568 
145, 098 



987, 379 



$716, 032 
715, 428 
793, 247 
747, 672 
586, 933 
1, 043, 435 
881, 746 



5, 481, 493 



[215] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



MACKEREL EXPORTS OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA. 

Statement XIII. — Shoiving the total value of maclcerel exported from the Dominion of 
Canada to the United States, 1873 to 1879. 



Tear. 



1873 

]874 

1875 

1876 

1877 

1878 

1«79 

Total 1873 to 1879 



Quebec. 



984 
860 
206 
• 21 
1,088 
1,394 



Nova Scotia. 



$502, 226 
518, 809 
242, 704 
415, 143 
216, 170 
473, 571 
406, 024 



5,493 



2, 774, 647 



ISTew 
Brunswick. 



$10, 232 
25, 123 
28, 978 
56, 274 
46, 023 
84, 682 
83, 605 



334, 917 



Prince Ed- 
ward Island. 



Total. 



$20, 440 
73, 279 
251, 232 
108, 332 
97, 359 
279, 402 
145, 038 



$533, 838 
618,195 
523, 774 
579, 955 
359, 573 
838, 743 
636, 061 



975, 082 



4, 090, 139 



KEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [216] 



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[217] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



MACKEREL EXPORTS OF BRITISH PROVINCES. 



Statement XV. — Showing the quanUtji and value of ■pickled mackerel exportedfothe United 
States from the Dominion of Canada, 1873 to 1879, also from Prince Edward Island, 1857 
to 1873, and from ^Newfoundland, 1853 to 1876. 



Tear. 


Quebec. 


Nova Scotia. 


New 
Brunswick. 


Prince Edward 
Island. 


Newfound- 
land. 


Total. 


2 


-a 
t> 


o5 

3 
m 


a 




6 

"a 
> 


3 


aj 


3 


'a 


3 


> 


1853 


















10 
19 


$48 
144 






1854 






















1855 






















1856 


























1857 














3,048 
4,078 
3,243 
3,471 
1,143 
2,321 
3,402 
6,583 

16, 530 
13,413 

12, 302 
11, 680 
10, 242 

13, 960 

17, 216 
9,126 
2, 528 
6,583 

31,466 
13, 276 
10, 867 
31,702 

18, 526 


$25, 000 
38, 440 
33, 891) 
36, 760 
11,525 

19, 320 
27, 045 
42, 775 

181, 675 
79, 990 
119, 195 
161, 836 
109,625 
176, 280 
146, 925 
111,512 

20, 440 
73, 279 

251, 232 
108, 332 
97, 359 
279, 402 
145, 038 










1858 






















1859 






















1860 






















3861 






















1802 














170 


1,010 






1863 


















1864 














158 
4 

"17 
9 

'8O4' 
916 

244 
28 


950 
24 






1865 


















1866 . . . 


















1867 














102 
54 

6,912" 

7,328 

1, 952 

196 






1868 


















1869 












.. 






1870 
















1871 


















1872 . . 










. .. 






1873 

1874 


106 
104 
146 

30 
3 

71 
223 


$940 
984 
800 
206 
21 
434 
1,394 


77, 420 
58, 385 
35, 568 
49, 407 
27, 285 
61,812 
65, 949 


$502, 226 
516, 120 
242, 578 
410,511 
215,119 
473, 018 
402, 574 


1,276 

2,561 
3 375 
7,122 
5, 049 
7,437 
9,952 


$10,232 
25, 123 
28, 978 
56, 274 
45, 961 
78, 890 
81, 596 


81, 330 
67, 693 
70, 555 
69, 841 
43, 204 
101, 022 
94, 655 


$538, 838 
615, 506 


1875 






523, 648 


1876 






575, 323 


1877 

1878 






358, 460 
831, 744 


1879 






630, 602 











VIII.— MATERIALS FOR A CHRONOLOGICAL HIS- 
TORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY OF NORTH 
AMERICA. 

M.— Extracts prom records and eeminiscenses op fishermen. 

50. — Seventeenth century. 

The mackerel fishery has been of great importance to the United 
States both from a commercial standpoint and as a motive for the forma- 
tion of treaties with the Government of Great Britain and the establish- 
ment of rates of tariff intended to regulate the importation of mackerel 
from the British provinces. Its history from year to year has been so 
varied, the conditions under which it was prosecuted in successive years 
so changeable, that it seems worth while to present here a series of notes 
chronologically arranged which have been gathered from various sources 
and which illustrate the changes in method and in result which have 
been recorded by observers from 1620 to the present time. 

1629 TO 1635. — Abundance op mackerel on the coast of new 

ENGLAND IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. 

Francis Higginson, in his "eTonrnal of His Yoyage to New England," 
1629, speaks of seeing "many schools of mackerel, infinite multitudes, 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [218] 

on every side of onr ship " off Cape Ann, June 26. [Young's Chronicles, 
232.] Eichard Mather, in his " Journal," 1635, speaks of the seamen 
taking abundance of mackerel off Menhiggin (p. 470). 

1671. — Eaely fishing on cape cod. 

In 1671 the code of laws for the government of the colony was revised 
and ordered to be printed under the title of "The Book of the General 
Laws of the Inhabitants of the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth." Under 
these laws, or "General Fundamentals," as they were called, provisions 
were made, as, has been suggested, "for the better improving of fishing 
for mackerel, &c., at the Cape." Penalties were imposed for taking 
them at other thm specified times, licenses were to be granted, &c., &c. 
It was now "ordered that the charges of the free schools, £33 per an- 
num, shall be defrayed by the treasurer out of the profits arising from 
the fishing at the Cape until such time as the minds of the freemen be 
known concerning it." 

At this time, also, "certain persons belonging in Hull petitioned the 
government for permission to fish at Cape Cod for mackerel, they hav- 
ing discovered a new method of fishing with nets by moonlight." — 
(Freeman's Hist, of Cape Cod, Boston, 1862, vol. i, p. 266.) 

1677. — EeNTAL OF THE CAPE COD FISHEKY. 

In July, 1677, the records of the Plymouth colony show that the Cape 
Cod fishery was let for 7 years, at thirty pounds per annum, to seine 
mackerel and bass, to certain individuals who are named. They were 
restricted to take in the Plymouth colonists with them, and if none 
offer, to admit strangers. 

The profits of the hire which accrued to the colony were sometimes 
distributed to the schools. — (Massachusetts Historical Collections, iii, 
p. 220.) 

51. — Nineteenth century. 

1802. — Mackerel fishing in cape cod eay. 
The following paragraph is taken from the Gloucester Historical Col. 

lections, vol. viii, 1802, p. 199: 

" Provincetown, 1802. 

"The first mackerel which are taken to Boston market in the spring 
are taken in the harbor and yield a handsome profit, though the Boston 
marketmen purchase them at about ^ of what they are sold for. 300 
barrels are every year pickled and sent to Boston. The mackerel, bass, 
and herring are caught with seines, of which there are about 50 in the 
town, and which cost $100 each. Another seine, worth six dollars, is 
made use of for catching mackerel in the spring, and herring for bait." 

1804-1832.— -Price of mackerel in boston market. 

The average price of fresh mackerel in Boston market from 1804 to 
1822 was six to eight cents apiece, sometimes ten j they were always 
sold by counts. — (Captain Merchant.) 



[219] histoky of the mackerel fisheey. 

1804:. — Shore mackerel fleet of cape ann. 

^' From 1804 to 1822," remarks Capt. E. W. Merchant, of Glouces- 
ter, "Cape Ann had a considerable fleet of vessels engaged in the shore 
mackerel fishery for the sole purpose of supplying the Boston market; 
seven oi^eight from Gloucester Harbor, seven or eight from the north 
side of the Cape." They preserved their fish in a peculiar way, which 
will be described under the proper heading. 

It is stated that the first shore mackerel fishing was j3rosecuted by 
the small boats, about the year 1800. The mackerel were caught mostly 
on the Inner Bank, and carried fresh to Boston market through the 
summer. Only the largest were saved, and these were sold for 5 or 6 
cents apiece, and sometimes as high as 10 cents. Each boat was bal- 
lasted with pebbles; on this were placed hogshead tubs, each having a 
hole with a plug in it. These tubs were filled with salt water, and as 
soon as the mackerel were dressed they were put into the tubs, and the 
water changed every hour by drawing the plugs and allowing it to run 
off, until sufficient were caught to start for market, the changing of the 
water continuing until the boat arrived above the Castle, where it is 
said the water loses its coolness. The great object after catching the 
mackerel was to get them to market before daylight, in order to have 
the cool of the morning to sell them in. If a boat with three men and 
two boys stocked fifty dollars a week, it was considered satisfactory. 

1804. — The introduction of hand-lining for mackerel from 
the decks of vessels. 

According to Capt. E. W. Merchant, the first man to introduce this 
mode of fishing was John Story, of Eockport, about the year 1804. 

1818-1821. — The first voyages made for the purpose of salting mack- 
erel was in the summer of 1818, by Capt. Simeon Burnham, in the 
schooner " President," on a trip to Cashe's; consequently to Captain. 
Burnham belongs the honor of being the pioneer in this branch of the 
fisheries. It was considered quite an imjjortant event at the time, so 
much so that Capt. Benjamin Tarr was hired to go as navigator. Sev- 
enty barrels were caught on this trip, and they were packed in Boston. 
Two years after, this branch began to increase, and in 1821 several other 
jiggers * were added to the fleet. They carried six hands, and were ab- 
sent about a week. The jiggers were stowed with butts and wash- 
barrels, and no mackerel were headed up on board until about 1820. 
In 1821, Samuel Wonson, Elisha M. Oakes, Eobert Marston, Simeon 
Burnham, Samuel Brown, Nathaniel Blatchford, John Wonson, George 

*Tlie name "jigger" was first applied to tlie vessels engaged in jigging mcakerel. 
As these vessels were all, or nearly all, plnkeys previous to 1830, the name In later 
years came to have a more special reference to the style of craftthan to the particular 
branch of fishery in which she was engaged. Thus the term "jigger" came to be 
synonymous with " j)inkey," and was often used in that sense by the fishermen. 



KEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [220] 

Wonson, James Merchant, Epes Merchant, were the skippers of the 
jiggers which comprised the chief part of the mackerel fleet. These 
jiggers ranged in tonnage from twenty seven to forty- five tons. Prior 
to 1818 there were but few mackerel packed in Gloucester, that part of 
the business being mostly done in Boston. Moses Gilbert was the only 
inspector in town until 1828, and his accommodations were quite' limited. 
At this date several other inspectors were appointed, and the mackerel 
fishery began to assume quite a business importance. — (Fisherman's 
Memorial and ♦Record Book.) 

1815. — The hingham mackerel fishery. 

In 1815 there were packed in HiDgham 5,C15 barrels mackerel, and 
in 1828, 32,313 barrels. There were 54 vessels employed, some for the 
season and some for a shorter time. There were 15 employed for the 
whole season, averaging 1.027 barrels each. The average number of 
hands were 8 to each vessel, making 432 in the whole. The quantity of 
salt used in striking and packing, allowing 18 hogsheads to 100 barrels, 
would be about 0,000 hogsheads. 

There is a company formed in this town who carry on this fisbing to 
some extent, besides several vessels fitted out by individuals. We un- 
derstand there is a mackerel comjjany in Wellfieet, in this county, 
extensively engaged in this fishery. We would like to hear with what 
success. — (Barnstable Journal, July 16, 1829.) 

1815. — Invention of the mackerel jia. 

The mackerel jig is said to have been invented about the year 1815 
by Abraham Lurvey, of Pigeon Cove, Cape Ann ; according to other 
authority, by one Thurlow, of Newburyjiort. 

1817. — Beginning of the southern mackerel fishery. 

Capt. John Parsons, of Eockport, Mass., went South after mackerel 
in the schooner Defiance ; went as far south as Cape May, and took 60 
barrels of fish^ all of which were caught bj'" drailing. 

1821. — The large vessels of the Gloucester fleet. 

About 1821 the fleet began to enlarge. The "Volante," of 37 tons, a 
pinkie built by Mr. l^pes W. Merchant, was considered a very'large 
vessel ; then came the Independence, and afterwards the Columbus, a 
square- sterned vessel of 43 or 44 tons, built by George Friend, which 
was considered a very large vessel. These vessels went after mackerel 
to salt. Previous to that the entire Gloucester fleet had 'tended the 
fresh-fish market. Plymouth, Scituate, and Cohasset began salting 
mackerel in advance of Gloucester. — (Statement of Capt. E. W. Mer- 
chant.) 



[221] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1818-1836. — Mackerel fishery of hingham. 

Maclcerel Fishery. — We believe the extent to which this fishery is car- 
ried on from the towns of Massachusetts is not generally known. For 
ourselves we were not aware of it and of the importance of encouraging 
this branch of industry, which not only furnishes the means of employ- 
ment to a large number of persons, but is of great consequence to the 
commercial interests of the country in affording a good nursery for sea- 
men. We have seen a pamphlet recently printed containing "A state- 
ment of the quantity of mackerel packed from Hingham vessels from 
1818 to 1828 inclusive." It appears from this statement that there has 
been in that town a gradual increase during the above period of ten per 
cent, a year. In 1815 the number of barrels packed in that town was 
3,615; in 1828, 33,313. During the last year 54 different vessels were 
employed from that place in the business, some for the season and some 
for a shorter period. There were 15 employed the whole season, aver- 
aging 1,027 barrels each, the highest vessel having packed 1,728^. The 
average number of persons was 8 to each vessel, making 433 in the 
whole, to which if the nuoiber employed in coopering, packing, &c., be 
added, would exceed 500. The quantity of salt used in salting and 
packing, allowing 18 hogsheads to 100 barrels, would be nearly 6,000 
hogsheads. 

The number of barrels packed in that town during the above period 
of years, 225,331^. The salt consumed for the same, 45,559 hogsheads. 

We have been informed that this fishing is carried on at Scituate, in 
this county, about as largely as in Hingham, and several vessels from 
other towns in this vicinity on the bay. 

A bill is now before the legislature of this State which provides for 
the repeal of the law requiring a reinspection of mackerel packed in 
other States when brought into this market.— (Gloucester Telegraph, 
July 18, 1829.) 

1821. — Mackerel-fishing with the hook commenced in the province of 
Nova Scotia, and was prosecuted with great success in some of the har- 
bors of the Bay of Fundy. — (Journal and Proceedings of the House of 
Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, 1857, Appendix 75.) 

1822.— First mackerel voyages from cape Ann to george's 

BANKS. 

In the year 1822, Capt. William Marshall caught a few mackerel on 
George's, which were the first, so far as we can ascertain, ever caught 
there by a Cape Ann skipper. Mackerel have been caught there every 
year since, more or less, and rank in quality among the best.— (Fisher- 
man's Memorial and Eecord Book.) 

1823. — Introduction of the mackerel gaff. 

The mackerel gaff was introduced about 1823. — (Fisherman's Me- 
morial and Eecord Book.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [222] 

1823. — Introduction of bait-mills. 

Bait-mills were first generally used by the Massaclinsetts mackerel 
fishermen about 1823. Previous to that time toll-bait had been cut 
with hatchets. ' 

1825, — Mackereling in the gulf of maine. 

In 1825, Captain Merchant went mackereling in the "Hornet," a 
schooner of 53 tons. The season began May 15, the vessel having been 
previously engaged in cod-fishing. During the season the crew of 7 
men and a boy landed and j)acked 1,304 barrels. They caught 700 
barrels in Massachusetts Bay in seven weeks' time, and packed them in 
Boston, The season continued until the 24th of November, and by that 
time the crew were entirely worn out by their continued labor. A con- 
siderable number of vessels in this same year packed from 1,000 to 
1,300 barrels each. The proceeds of the season's work exceeded $2,700, 
the crew making about $350 or $400 each. The vessel cost about $1,300, 
when fitted for the work at the beginning of the season. 

According to Captain Merchant the crews of mackerel vessels of 
Gloucester have made from $100 to $400 to the man during his expe- 
rience of sixty years. In war times their average returns were about 
$400 each. — (Eeminiscences of Captain Merchant.) 

IS25 and 1831. — Mackerel fishing- from cape ann. 

The seasons of 1825 and 1831 were the greatest known for mackerel 
up to this date. Vessels not over 50 tons landed upwards of 1,300 bar- 
rels, averaging through the fleet about 800. Mackerel continued in 
Boston Bay, near the land, in the year 1825, until the 4th day of Decem- 
ber, the crew of schooner "Frances Elizabeth" having caught 12 wash- 
barrels on that day. The catch was not so large as in '31, to each ves- 
sel, but the aggregate was much larger, and the mackerel of a better 
quality. These fish were so jflenty that the fishermen devoted the day 
to catching and the greater portion of the night to landing and dress- 
ing, and were completely worn out with their arduous labors. One 
morning during the first week in December, while the fleet were some 
ten miles off Eastern Point, the mackerel failed to come to the surface, 
after the usual throwing of bait. This was a pretty sure sign that they 
had gone, and the fishermen, whose sore hands and tired bodies bore 
evidence of the work they had accomj)]ished in mackerel catching, were 
heartily glad that at last the fish had taken themselves off, and many of 
the fleet hoisted their flags as a token of their rejoicing over the event 
of the mackerel's departure. The price of maciverel this year was $5.50 
for I's; $3.50 for 2's: $2.50 for 3's, and out of this, $1.25 was paid for 
packing. — (Fisherman's Memorial and Eecord Book.) 



[223] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1815 TO 1820. — A MACKERELING TRIP IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THAT 

FISHERY. 

"I was ten years old when I made my first fisliing trip. We went to 
Cashe's in a deck-boat of 20 tons. Capt. Daniel Eobinson was skipper 
and I was cook. There were six of us, all told. We went at the hah- es, 
and all shared alike, the privilege of cooking and the glory of being 
skipper being considered in those days ample compensation for any ex- 
tra labor or responsibility. We took about 40 barrels of mackerel, sav- 
ing only the large bloaters, which we slat into the barrels; the small 
fish Ave slat into the lee scuppers and stamped them up with our boots for 
bait with which to toll the fish. Afterwards we chopped bait with a 
hatchet, until Gunnison, of Newburyport, invented the bait-mill, a god- 
send to the fishermen, who could now smoke and spin yarns while on 
watch, instead of cho])ping bait. A story is told on the best of author- 
ity, of one skipper, Andrew Burnham, who had been a great "killer" in 
his time, that after the bait-mill came into use he was unable to sleep 
without the sound of tlie hatchet chopj)ing bait, to which he had been 
so long accustomed. It is said that they tried pounding on the anchor 
stock, and tramping with their big boots on deck above his head, but 
all to no avail. There was an element lacking in the noise they made, 
and' he wooed the somnolent god to no effect, and was obliged to retire 
to private life on a farm, in the 'second parish', I believe. 

"We cooked in the old-fashioned way, in a brick fireplace with a brick 
chimney, and a wooden smoke-stack or funnel, which was intended to 
carry off the smoke, but did not always do so. The crane, pot-hook, 
Butch oven, and trencher were all there, and all brought into ase, as I 
well remember. We baked short-cakes on the trencher, bread in the 
Dutch oven, and hung our kettle on tlie crane, with the pot-hook, to 
make coffee or tea. 

"We had fine weather, and everything passed off finely excejjt the 
smoke, which refused to pass oif at all, and under a less resolute com- 
mander than Skipper Eobinson would doubtless have assumed command 
altogether. No casualties occurred except the burning of a few short- 
cakes, while 'Bijah (it being his first voyage) j^aid tribute to father i^ep- 
tune, and was himself again. We were gone three days. Arriving on 
the fishing grounds we made but one 'berth,' catching and dressing un- 
til everything was full, when we hoisted the foresail, for jib we had 
none, and bore away for 'Squam, arrived in the channel, dro])ped anchor, 
furled the sails, and went home to see the folks." — (The Old-time Fishery 
at 'Squam, by Gideon L. Davis, in the Fisherman's Own Book, pp. 41, 42.) 

1819 TO 1859. — EEMlNISCENfJES OF "UNCLE^ GEORGE DAYIS CON- 
CERNING THE EARLY MACKEREL FISHERIES OF ANNISQUAM. — 
FIRST BAIT-MILL ON CAPE ANN. — SOUTHERN MACKEREL FISHERY, 
ETC. 

" Uncle" George Davis, of Annisquam, Gloucester, says that in 1821 
he helped make the first bait-mill that was ever made in Gloucester. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [224] 

They had been made in JSTewbuiyport in 1820. At that date, or about 
1824, there were six vessels of from 40 to 50 tons went as far south as 
]Sew York for mackerel. 

" I commenced mackerel fishing in 1819 ; built a pinky and went south; 
chopped our bait ; worked sometimes all night ; called 125 to 150 barrels 
a good trip for three or four weeks ; sold no mackerel fresh in those 
days ; all salted. The first trip was usually sold in New York ; the 
next one brought home to Gloucester. In 1859 'Squam had twent^'-five 
to thirty sail of mackerel catchers. Shore fishing was then first rate." — 
(Notes of A. Howard Clark.) 

1828. — Close of the mackerel season. — poor success of the 

FISHERY. 

The mackerel fishery is about terminated for the season, and we are 
sorry to say that anticipation in this article has not been realized. We 
believe other towns mal^e a like complaint in regard to the failure of 
the fall fares. This will necessarily enhance the prices, and in part bal- 
ance the failure in the number caught. The loss, however, falls upon 
those who are immediately engaged in takiug them, and consequently 
deprives them of that on which they depend for a livelihood, as they 
seldom hold on in order to speculate. — (Gloucester Telegrai)h, ISTovem- 
ber 22, 1828.) 

1828. — The mackerel fleet. 

The Gloucester Telegraph, June 21, 1828, states that from three hun- 
dred to four hundred mackerel vessels were often seen at anchor in 
Gloucester Harbor at one time. 

1830. — first voyage from cape ann to the gulf of saint 

Lawrence. 

The first trip to the Bay of Saint Lawrence for mackerel, from this 
port, was made in 1830, by Capt. Charles P. Wood, in the "Mariner." 
She was absent but four weeks, and came in full of large fat mackerel. 
This created quite an excitement among the fishermen, and the next 
season the Bay fishing commenced in good earnest. The vessels at first 
made but one trip, and finished uj) their season's work on this shore. 
Two hundred and fifty barrels was considered a good trip for a vessel 
of forty or fifty tons. As soon as the business was found to be profit- 
able, vessels of a larger class were added to the fleet, and it has gradu- 
ally increased from year to year until the i^resent time. — (Fisherman's 
Memorial and Eecord Book.) 

1830. — Comparative scarcity of small mackerel in Massachu- 
setts BAY PREVIOUS TO 1830. 

Captain Merchant, of Gloucester, states that small mackerel were 
very scarce in Massachusetts Bay until 1830. He also says that small 



[225] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

inackerel always lead the large ones in their approach to the coast. 
When he was in the habit of fishing on George's he went there about 
the first of June, and always caught " finger mackerel" before the large 
4)nes. — (ISTotes on the Mackerel Fisheries, by G. Brown Goode.) 

1832. — Markets foe mackerel. 

In 1832 the demand for mackerel was much greater than the supply, 
according to Captain Merchant. Philadelphia bought two-thirds of the 
entire catch of Gloucester, which amounted to 320,000 barrels. 

1826. — The following account of a mackerel voyage on the coast of 
^■New England in 1826 is from the pen of N. E. Atwood: 

"The first year that I fished for mackerel on this coast was in 1826, 
and having changed from the laborious and exposed business of cod- 
fishing on the Labradqr coast, I took a good deal of notice of what 
passed, and, consequently, I still remember a good deal about the voy- 
age. We sailed from Provincetown on the 28th of June, and went 
down to a point some twenty leagues northeast of Cape Cod. 

"On the day following we saw one school of mackerel, and, getting 
into it, we threw out bait, and caught, well, some 3 or 4 barrels. That 
was the first school which we met with ; and this happened on the 29th 
of June. It was the last school we saw until the 13th of September, 
my birthday; this was a very large school. In five weeks we caught 
238 barrels of mackerel, and, although it was early in the season, still 
they packed very well. After they were packed we went out again and 
secured 250 barrels where we saw the school of mackerel on the 13th of 
September." 

1827. — Price of mackerel. 

In 1827-'28, according to Capt. William H. Oakes, the price of !N"o. 1 
mackerel ranged from $4.50 to $5.50 per barrel, while No. 2's sold for 
$2.50. 

1828. — Mackerel, sales, prices, etc. 

A large quantity of mackerel are afloat amounting, perhaps, to 1,500 
barrils. The sales have been extensive, though at rather lower prices. 
The current rates have been 4f to ^ for I's and 2's, and in some cases $5. — 
•(Gloucester Telegraph, Ax)ril 19, 1828.) 

1828. — Scarcity of mackerel. 

Our fishing vessels the past week have returned with very few mack. 
€rel. Some have brought in only 25 or 30 barrels after being absent a 
week or ten days. What have been caught were packed out as No. 3's, 
and very likely the fish have struck off in order to fat for No. I's and 2's- 
We advise dealers to hold on to what they have, as there is likely to be 
a scarcity this season. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 12, 1828.) 



kepoet of commissiokee of fish and fisheries. [226] 

1832. — Failuke of mackerel on the western coast of nova 
scotia. — importance of the american mackerel fishery. 

So far this fall the mackerel fishery on our western shore has been an 
entire failure. Some idea may be formed of the extent to which this 
fishery is carried on from the United States by the circumstance of 360 
vessels having left the port of Gloucester for that purpose on the night 
of the 28th ultimo. — Halifax, November 20. — (Gloucester Telegraph, De- 
cember 1, 1832.) 

1833. — Disinclination of mackerel to take the hook. 

Thesefish [mackerel] are taken in much less quantities this season thus 
far than usual. The complaint of the fishermen is not so much that 
they can't find mackerel, but that they " won't bite " when they find 
them. This again makes the salt manufacturer.complain that his com- 
modity is less wanted, and consequently the price is reduced ; and when 
our fishermen and salt makers are disappointed and have hard luck 
makes sorry times on Cape Cod. Some of our shoresmen, however, the 
onion growers, have good crops and they obtain a fair price for them at 
market. And the sea-serpent, or something else, has driven on shore 
upon the cape, at several places, a considerable number of black fish^ 
the blubber of which makes very good oil, and some of these fish have 
a considerable quantity of it. — (Barnstable Patriot, August 28, 1833.) 

1833. — Great abundance of mackerel in Massachusetts bay. 

Mr. S. B. Brown, writing of the early fisheries of Gloucester, says: 
"The next year [1833] I went to Gloucester, hunted up my old skipper^ 
who was still master of the same boat, and went with him that season. 

" I recollect well the great school of mackerel that struck Middle 
Bank that year. September 22, at 10 o'clock at night, there were some 
two hundred sail at anchor, 25 miles southeast of Eastern Point light,, 
in a dead calm, when our skipper sang out, 'Here they are, boys,' at 
the same moment every vessel in the fleet commenced the catch. We 
fished for three days, and filled everything, even our boat, and struck 
on deck until we were in fish knee deep. Then, a breeze up, we ran in 
and packed out 280 barrels, and returned to the bank just as the wind 
left us. We fished three days more when they struck off as suddenly 
as they had come."^-( Fisherman's Own Book, page 197.) 

1834. — Mackerel fleet in the gulf of saint lawrence. 

According to Captain Atwood the fleet of American mackerel catch- 
ers in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in 1834, consisted of six vessels, three 
of which belonged at Provincetown. They secured full fares, and re- 
turned in a very short time. 



[227] history of the mackerel fishery. 

1834— Scarcity of mackerel on the new England coast. 

The Gloucester Telegraph of September 3, 1834, copies the following 
extract from the Hingham Gazette: 

'^A Halifax paper states that herring and mackerel are very plenty 
this season. Our fishermen have never found mackerel more scarce than 
during this season. We hope the fall fishing will be more productive." 

1835. — Inspection of no. 4 mackerel begun. 

Tinkers. — The legislature has concluded that the little fry caught by 
our mackerel fishermen, commonly called "Tinkers," shall be separated 
from those of a larger growth and packed by themselves, and branded 
No. 4. The distinction between No. 3 and No. 4 will be, we suppose, 
only in the size of the fish, without regard to the fatness. Something- 
was said about making all those No. 4 which should be less than six 
inches long from tip to tail, but it was finally left rather indefinite, so 
that each inspector will have to exercise his own discretion and judg- 
ment as to what constitutes a "tinker." — (Barnstable Patriot, October 
21, 1835. 

1835. — Oapt. N. E. Atwood's experience in the mackerel fish- 
eries OF THE GULF OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 

"In 1842 I was first master, and in 1835 1 first came to the gulf for 
mackerel. When we arrived there we could hear of no mackerel any- 
where. We went toward the Magdalen Islands, and about 8 miles off 
from them to the southwest we got a large number of ma<ikerel the first 
day we were there. This induced us to fish in that vicinity, and we 
fished between that and the west head of the islands, as we call it, or 
Deadman's Island, as it is sometimes called. 

"Q. Is that part of the Magdalen Islands? — A. Yes 5 it is the west 
end of them. We fished there all that trip, and the result was that we 
got about 180 barrels, speaking in round numbers. The crew received 
a large share, and did much better than those fished to the westward 
that season. * * * 

"During my first year in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, when we 
got 180 barrels, we fished at the west end of the Magdalen Islands, 
and when we set out to go home, the wind freshened from the south- 
ward, and we struck in somewhere near St. Peter's Sandhills, as we 
called the place, and while reefing the foresail, we hove the vessel to, 
and I threw out a few shovels full of bait. Mackerel came up, and 
seemed to be very abundant, but we only caught about half a barrel. 
Night came on jtist as soon as the foresail was reefed, and hoisting it 
up, we hauled in the hand-lines instead of anchoring there, and went 
about along shore, hove to, and let the vessel drift off. Next day we 
got back to Pleasant Bay, Magdalen Islands. That was all we got 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [228] 

there that voyage, and we never fished anywhere, or caught any mack- 
erel on the Prince Edward Island side, or anywhere within the restricted 
limits, until 1842. During that year I was passing Port Hood late in 
the afternoon — it was just nightfall — when I hove to and tried the 
school, and I do not think that I was at the time three miles offshore 
I did not fish there over a day, and we obtained a few mackerel, per- 
haps six or seven barrels. When I came to .talk with the crew, some 
said we were 6 miles offshore, and some 4 miles, and so on 5 but I will 
tell you what I thought about it : this was, that if a cutter came along 
lie would take me, so I considered that I did not need to stay there. 
Soon after dark I discovered a vessel running down apparently towards 
the Strait of Canso, and hauling up for us. I was afraid she was a cut- 
ter, and I was then very sorry that I had obtained any mackerel there. 
She happened, however, not to be a cutter, and I got away the next day. 
This was all the mackerel I ever caught within the three-mile line," — 
(Testimony of Captain Atv^ood before Halifax Commission.) 

1836. — Prices of mackerel. 

Sales of mackerel at $9 for l^o. 1, $8 for Is^o. 2, $4.25 to |4.50 for No. 
3, per barrel, purchaser paying inspection. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 
8,1836.) 

1836. — Unusual, scarcity of mackerel. 

The Barnstable Patriot says : We learn from Wellfleet that the mack- 
erel fishermen which have arrived at that place within two weeks have 
^ot unusually small fares, averaging less than 50 batrels each. — (Glou- 
cester Telegraph, July 6, 1836.) 

1836. — A protest against BOBBINa or " GIGOING" MACKEREL. 

The Boston Journal protests strongly against the barbarous method 
of taking mackerel, called " gigging," and urges that it is not only liable 
to censure on the score of humanity, but is also impolitic, and that if 
this destructive method of fishing is generally continued a few years 
longer, it will break up the fishery. We have for a year or two past en- 
tertained a similar opinion, and probably the complaints now so fre- 
quently made by the fishermen that, though mackerel are plenty, they 
will not bite, is owing to the custom of "gigging." There is hardly 
anything which possesses life that has so little instinct as not to become 
very shy under such barbarous inflictions. It is obvious that all which 
are hooked in this manner are not taken on board ; the gig frequently 
tears out, and thousands, millions of these fish are lacerated by these 
large hooks, and afterwards die in the water. — Newhuryport Herald. — 
^(Gloucester Telegraph, September 3, 1836.) 

1836. — One of the great mackerbl-fishing stations. 

The principal business of the place [Sandy Bay, now Eockport, Mass.] 
is the bank, bay, shore, and mackerel fisheries, which, with the freight- 



[229] , HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

ing, employ probably not less than six or seven hundred hands. More 
mackerel is usually taken by them than by any other people on the 
coast. — From the Salem Landmarlc. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 
14, 1836.) 

1836. — Small catch of mackerel. 

From present appearances the number of mackerel taken this year 
will fall short some hundred barrels of the last year's catch. There are 
mackerel enough, we are told, but they do not bite freely. Some fisher- 
men have abandoned the mackerel fishery entirely and taken out cod- 
fishing papers. — Democrat. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 1, 1836.) 

1836. — Active demand for mackerel. 

The demand for mackerel has been very active, and in consequence 
of a limited supj)ly, prices have advanced. Sales of No. 1, |9.75'2)$10^ 
No. 2, $8.75'S;|9 ; No. 3, $6.— (Gloucester Telegraph, October 12, 1836.) 

The supplies [of mackerel] are very light and prices have again ad- 
vanced. No. 1 at llO'SllO.OO, No. 2 at $9, No. 3 at $6.50. ' One thou- 
sand barrels, principally Nos. 1 and 2, were taken out of our market on 
Monday. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 19, 1836.) 

1836. — Captain Atwood's experience in the mackerel fishert 
of the gulf of saint lav7rence. 

Q. Where did j'ou fish during the remainder of the six years'? — A. 
The next year, 1836, was my second year there at the Magdalen Islands, 
I haviug done so well there the years previous. I want it to be un- 
derstood that I was in a small vessel with a small crew. 

Q. Perhaps j^ou will give the tonnage and the number of the crew? 
— A. Her tonnage was 59, with the then reckoning, but now it would 
be called less than 40. We went direct that year to the Magdalen 
Islands, and we found that there had been some mackerel caught there^ 
but none within a few days of that period ; and as we had heard that 
mackerel were sometimes taken at Newfoundland, we bore up and went 
over there. The next day after our arrival we tried near Cape St. 
George, but though we tried all day, we never saw one, and so we re- 
turned to the Magdalen Islands, and remained there during the fishing: 
term until w.e obtained a full cargo — 225 barrels. We afterward pro- 
ceeded westward, aud*found that vessels which had been fishing about 
Prince Edward Island, and further tip, on Bradley Bank and elsewhere,, 
had done better than that; but we were satisfied; our voyage suited: 
us, and we had got all we wanted. — (Proceedings Halifax Commission.) 

Extent of Massachusetts fisheries for 1837. 

In 1837 there were employed in Massachusetts in the cod and mack- 
erel fisheries 1,290 vessels, manned by 11,146 men, and the fish taken, 
were valued at $3,208,559; about one-half of these were in the cod fish- 
ery. — Gloucester Telegraph, February 20, 1839. — (From the rejiort of the^ 
Washington Coinmissidii on Salt Bounty. ) 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [230] 

^ 1837. — Poor doings of the mackeeelmen. 

The vessels from Cape Sable and the Western Banks have generally 
brought in good fares. The mackerel fishermen have not done so well. 
— Yarmouth Register. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 4, 1837.) 

1837. — Success of the cape cod and cape ann maokeeelmen. 

The Barnstable Patriot says : " Since ' hard times' have become the 
universal topic of conversation throughout the Union, if not the world, 
it affords us no little pleasure to find that the fishermen of Cape Cod have 
been blessed with large discounts from their favorite banks. We learn 
that five mackerelmen who have packed their fares in this town, have 
already caught 1,G00 barrels for the quarter ending in July. During 
the same time last season there were less than 700 barrels." 

" We have heard of several excellent fares having been brought in by 
our mackerel fishermen, within two or three weeks past ; and, although 
the fish are reported rather scarce, yet the season promises well so far." 
— (Gloucester Telegraph, August 5, 1837.) 

1837. — A Bia SCHOOL of mackerel in Portsmouth and Glou- 
cester HARBORS. 

Nearly 400 barrels of mackerel were taken in Portsmouth Harbor, 
daily, for two or three days last week. It is not usual for them to be 
found there. Mackerel have been plenty for several days past just off 
Eastern Point, in this harbor, but we do not learn that any considerable 
quantity has been taken. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 26, 1837.) 

1837. — Boat fishing in maine. 

We learn that not less than 90 barrels of mackerel were brought into 
our harbor on Thursday, in open boats. — Kennebunk Gazette. — (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, September 13, 1837.) 

1837 TO 1841. — Scarcity of mackerel; introduction of night 

FISHING. 

Captain Merchant, of Gloucester, informs me that there was a great 
scarcity of all kinds of mackerelfrom 1837 to 1841. He had at that time 
€ight vessels engaged in this business, the smartest of which only packed 
70 barrels, in the season of 1837. Mackerel connnued scarce until 1841. 
At last the skippers became discouraged, and this year they went to 
Georges' in search of fish. They found there large schools of mackerel, 
which would bite only at night. Vessels would catch 30 or 40 barrels 
in a night when it was so dark that they must needs have lanterns to 
see their lines. These night schools were a godsend to Gloucester. 
Such habits had never been observed before that time nor since. 

In 1837, according to Captain Merchant, the vessels did not get enough 
mackerel to cover the bottoms of theirtubs. In 1841, mackerel struck in 
great abundance ; there were oceans of "tinkers." — (Notes on the Mack- 
erel Fisheries, by G. Brown Goode. ) 



P31] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



1837. — Fall mackerel fishery at Portsmouth.^ 

Nearly 400 barrels of mackerel were taken daily (with hand lines) for 
fcwo or three days last week in Portsmouth Harbor; also plenty off 
Eastern Point. — (Gloucester Telegraph, AugTist 26, 1837.) 

1837-1838.— Mackerel fishery of HiNanAM. 



The Hingham Gazette says, during the jjast year (1830) 49 vessels 
have been engaged in the mackerel fisheries ; number of barrels taken, 
14,436. In 1835, 57 vessels were engaged in the business ; number of 
barrels taken, 15,398. During the past year several vessels formerly in 
the mackerel fisheries have been fishing for cod. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
January 5, 1837.) 

In Hingham during the past year 57 vessels have been engaged in 
the mackerel fishery; the catch was 17,134 barrels. In 1836, 49 vessels; 
catch, 14,436 barrels. In 1835, 57 vessels ; catch, 15,398 barrels. — (Glou- 
cester Telegraph, January 3, 1838.) 



1838. — Fall mackerel in cape cod bay. 

Mackerel were abundant in Cape Cod Bay. On September 8 it is 
^s'timated that 3,000 barrels of mackerel were taken in Barnstable Bay; 
oue vessel took 70 barrels. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 12, 1838.) 

1838. — Catch of mackerel for Massachusetts. 

Meiurns of mackerel packed in this State up to Janiiary, 1839, all the packages reckoned in 
baiTeh; also, the number of vessels, tonnage, men and boys employed. 



■Crloucester — 

Boston 

Kt'Wburyport . 

Hingham 

Wellrieet 

"Cohasset 

Proviacetown. 

Barnstable 

Truro 

Scituate 

Yarmouth 

■Salem 

Plymouth 

Dennis 

Chatham 

Duxbury 

MarbleSead... 

Beverly 

Ipswich 



1837. 
-1&36. 



Barrels 
No. 1. 



11, 582 

5,301 

5,709 

3,040 

3,314 

2, 052 

2,203 

1,000 

677 

781 

470 

748 

340 

391 

223 

110 

76 

35 

2 



38,054 



26, 830 
54,016 



Barrels 
No. 2. 



6,854 

4,307 

3,000 

3,218 

3,609 

1,729 

1,797 

1,365 

800 

502 

539 

309 

305 

605 

127 

159 

40 

63 

13 



Barrels 
No. 3. 



29, 341 



5,796 

6,128 

4,316 

6,188 

3,617 

6,665 

4,748 

1,533 

1,645 

1,091 

659 

273 

472 

913 

103 

80 

52 

32 



44, 320 



61, 940 
60,569 



52, 541 
58,883 



Vessels. 



245 

162 

99 

51 

72 

47 

70 

11 

19 

25 

10 

11 

7 

6 

7 



Tons. 



11, 699 

9,761 

4,876 

3, 051 

2,777 

2, 637 

3,492 

739 

638 

1,632 

697 

690 

240 

335 

320 

284 

425 

40 

46 



44, 381 



Men and 

boys. 



1,831 

1,315 

772 

522 

449 

439 

546 

129 

119 

225 

106 

104 

58 

62 

46 

40 

55 

9 



6,833 



Barrels. 

Total for 1S38 111,815 

Total for 1837 141,311 

Total for 1836 173,468 



(Barnstable Patriot, January 16, 1839.) 



REPORT or COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [232J 

1838. — The spring fishery. 

• 

The Philadelphia Daily Advertiser states that large quantities of mack- 
erel have been taken during the last month, within 10 or 15 miles of 
Cape Henlopen. One boat from Portland took in one day 45 barrels. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, July 21, 1838.) 

1838. — Scarcity of mackerel in gulf of saint laweencb. 

Arrived, schooner Metamora, from Bay Ohaleur, with 13,000 [cod]' 
fish. Eeports fish plenty, but mackerel very scarce ; could not obtaim 
them in sufficient quantities for bait. — (Gloucester Telegraphy July 25j, 

1838.) 

1838. — Excellent quality and abundance of mackerel in Mas- 
sachusetts BAY. 

Our oldest fishermen have never known the season when /«# mackerel 
were so plenty about our shores as they have been for a week or two> 
past. On Sunday last (in these times people will fish on Sunday) at 
least 150 barrels were taken just off the shore opposite Eastern Point,, 
by wherries and a few larger craft ; and for size and fatness, the sample* 
which came under our observation were altogether superior to any wo 
had ever before seen. One of these beauties was exhibited by a gen- 
tleman, which weighed ujiwards of three pounds, and the fat upon him 
measured an inch in thickness. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 12;, 
1838.) 

The [mackerel] fishermen have brought in larger fares the last week. 
The vessels that have cruised around the shores of the Cape, have taken 
from 100 to 150 barrels during the last four weeks. The vessels in the 
Bay of Pundy are reported doing well; those off Mount Desert and the 
eastern shore have taken very few fish. — (Yarmouth Register.) 

1838. — Prosperity of the mackerel fishery. 

"The Fishing- Business. — Joyfully do we announce prosperity in this- 
line of the business. Our bay seldom exhibits its late appearance, dur- 
ing the week past, from our office window. Oftentimes we could numer- 
ate 100 sail of fishermen, and on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday lasty. 
200 to 250 sail were counted, making a splendid sight. Mackerel have 
bitten for the past week remarkably well. Considering the industry 
and enterprise which lie at the root, no more imposing appearance 
can be witnessed than that of 200 or 250 sail of vessels sijreading" their 
bleached canvas to the wind, and gliding gently along on the coasts 
On Saturday we understand that the schooner 'Roxana,' of Wellfleet^ 
was run afoul of by the ' Columbia,' of Dennis, by which accident she 
was dismasted. We t.o not learn that any other serious injury was sus.- 
tained." — (Barnstable Patriot, September 12, 1838.) 



[233] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHEUV. 

OVERFISHING DESTROYING THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

After commenting on the great demand for mackerel in the West, \t 
(the Newburyport Herald) says: "It appears now almost reduced to a 
certainty that the time is not distant when, if we are not compelled in a 
great measure to abandon the business, it will be prosecuted as an un- 
certain one, and by a greatly decreased number of vessels and meu. 
There is of late not more than one successful season out of ibur." — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, August 18, 1838.) 

1838. — Captain atwood's experience in the mackerel fisher- 
ies OF the gulf of saint LAWRENCE. 

My brother and I bought a little vessel and fished around home, and 
we finally concluded to go to the Bay of Saint Lawrence. We did so, 
and stopped there some six weeks. 

Q. When was that? — A. In 1838. We stopped only six weeks, and 
we got only about twenty barrels. 

Q. Where ? — A. We were at the Magdalen Islands all the time. We 
had poor sails and a poor vessel, and we found it much safer about the 
Magdalen Islands. We always considered it safer than in the bight of 
Prince Edward Island. 

Q. And twenty barrels were all that you got that year *? — A. Yes. We 
came home about the 20th of September. We went to the bay iii 
August, and we remained there, I think, abo«t six weeks. — (Proceed- 
ings Halifax Commission.) 

1838. — Appearance of mackerel in barnstable bat. 

Mackerel have made their appearance in the bay (Barnstable Bay) 
in considerable quantities. On Thursday we saw from the Highland a 
fleet of about 100 sail lying from Gurnet to Manomet, making a beau- 
tiful appearance. They were apparently taking fish. We noticed also* 
a great number of small boats among them. We learned at Plymouth 
that boat fishing had been a very good businessfor the last week or twOy 
some individuals clearing $30 per day each. The mackerel taken are of 
the best quality. * * * — (Hiugham Patriot.) 

Provincetown, September 9. — The mackerel fishermen are doiu^ 
well. It is estimated that 3,000 barrels were taken in Barnstable Bay 
on Friday last. One vessel took 70 barrels on that day. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, September 12, 1838.) 

1838. — A big fleet in barnstable bay. 

The mackerel fishermen have continued to do a little better of late^ 
though we suspect not near as well as is generally supposed. We have 
been informed, on what we esteem good authority, that the average 
number of barrels taken on Friday last would not exceed ten per vessel. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [234] 

Some, it is stated, procured large fares (such, for instance, as the Ino, 
which took 150 wash-barrels), while others did not catch a. fish. For a 
week or two past the bay has been thronged with fishermen . On Tuesday 
last 280 sail could be distinctly seen. — Yarmouth Register. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, September 19, 183*8). 

1838. — Scarcity of mackerel in bay saint lawrence. 

Captain Morgan, of schooner " Cossack," of Beverly, cod-fishing from 
the Bay Chaleur, arrived here yesterday, reports that he was in the 
harbor of Castle Eock (?) the 25th August, with 120 sail of mackerel 
catchers. Mackerel were scarce, and none of the vessels in the harbor 
exceeded 30 barrels, except two. Caj)tain M. left the Gut the 3d of Sep- 
tember ; saw a large number of vessels every day, but could hear of no 
vessels doing well. — (Gloucester Telegrajjh, September 22, 1838.) 

1839. — Abundance of mackerel in the bay of fundy. 

The Saint Andrews Standard says : " Our bay and coves have been 
literally swarming with mackerel during the past week. Large quan- 
tities have been caught in the weirs at Bocabec and along the shores." 
The fishermen along our coast complain that the mackerel have all gone 
away. It appears from the above that they ai-e on a visit to the British 
provinces. 

1839. — Mackerel fishing from cape ann. 

Cape Ann, says the Telegraph, as everybody knows, has always taken 
the lead in the mackerel fishery, having a much larger number of ves- 
sels engaged in it than any other place ; and the crews have in times 
past made their calculations to land by this time and have landed their 
200, 250, or 300 barrels each, whereas the largest fare that has been 
brought in this season is 73 barrels, and the whole catch packed out 
probably does not exceed 500. — (Barnstable Patriot, September 4, 1839.) 

1839 AND 1840. — Captain Atwood's experience in the mackerel 

FISHERY. 

In 1839 I went in my own vessel, the "Lucy Mary," which was the 
one in which I first went to the bay, to the Grand Bank. Mackerel were 
scarce, and the prospect was discouraging, so I went cod-fishing, curing 
the fish myself. I then hauled the vessel up and did not go for mack- 
erel until 1840. I did not then go to the Grand Bank, and having no fish 
to cure I had to go mackereling somewhere. There was at the time no 
^encouragement to fish for mackerel, either on our coast or in the Gulf of 
<Saint Lawrence, and as people had told me stories about mackerel being- 
found at the Azores, I was induced to fit out and go there. 
• Q. Did you get any mackerel at the Azores'? — A. No. — (Proceedings 
Halifax Commission.) 



[235] history of the mackerel fishery. 

1841. — Doings of the gape cod and cape ann fleets. — ^night 
fishing a new feature in the mackerel fishery. 

The quantity of mackerel taken the present season is, thus far, not 
materially different from the quantity caught last year, A Tew vessels 
from Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Dennis, have been more successful, but 
this is by no means the case with vessels generally. — (Yarmouth Eeg- 
ister.) 

Mackerel are reported to be more plenty the present than they have 
been the last two or three years past; but our fishermen do not seem to 
meet with much success in taking them. It is somewhat remarkable 
that thus far the present season nearly all the mackerel that have been 
caught have been taken in the nighty while heretofore this tishhas scarcely 
©ver been known to bite after sundown. — (Gloucester Telesfraph, July 21, 
1841.) 

There have been but few arrivals of mackerel this week, for which a 
ready demand has been experienced, and prices are consequently a shade 
higher, No. 1, $11.50; No. 2, $10.25; No. 3, $5.75 and $6 per barrel.— 
{Ihid.) 

1841. — A CURIOUS REASON GIVEN FOR THE SCARCITY OF MACKEREL 

A correspondent suggests as a cause for the scarcity of mackerel the 
general practice of using "hardhead" [menhaden] for bait, the sharp- 
bones of which fish kill the mackerel that feed upon it. The suggestion 
is worthy of consideration, at least. — Yarmouth Register. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, January 30, 1841.) 

1841. — First fare of the season. 

A fare of 66 barrels of mackerel, the first arrival this season, came up 
from an outport. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 16, 1841.) 

1841. — Discouraging prospects for the mackerelmen. 

Two vessels arrived this week from mackereling, absent over three 
weeks, without obtaining one barrel of mackerel. The prospects for the 
mackerel fishermen this year are unusually discouraging. — (Gloucester 
"Telegraph, August 7, 1841.) 

1841. — The mackerel fishery. — what were considered good 

FARES IN 1841. 

Several of the mackerel fishermen from our vicinity, who were un- 
usually successful during the first part of the season, have recently 
returned with very small fares. Many of our most experienced fisherr 
men are included in the number, who give as their opinion that the 



KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER. OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [236J 

number of mackerel rapidly diminishes every year. — (Yarmouth Reg- 
ister.) 

Two of the Gloucester vessels have recently come in with tolerable 
fares — good, indeed, they may be called in the present state of the fish- 
eries. We have heard of one vessel with 90 and another with 120 bar- 
rels. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 11, 1841.) 

1841. — Favorable reports from gulf of saint lawrence. 

Favorable accounts have been received from Bay Chaleur, and full 
fares are expected from the fishery in that quarter. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, August 11, 1841.) 

1841. — Almost total failure of the mackerel fishery. — Bad 

results therefrom. 

The Gloucester Telegraph says that nearly the whole fleet from that 
port were returning, and mostly without mackerel. — (Philadelphia Ga- 
zette.) 

So unfavorable has been the mackerel fishery the present season (and 
it was nearly as bad the last and preceding years) that most of those 
who have been actively engaged in it have not earned enough to carry 
themselves and families through the winter. Indeed, we heard one indi- 
vidual remark the other day that he himself had seen a hundred fish- 
ermen who, after all the toil, privations, and dangers they had endured 
during the whole fishing season, had not a dollar coming to them, or 
either of them, now that they have returned to their homes and fami- 
lies. We have heard of a firm who, upon settling up the voyages of 
their vessels, paid to the crew of one $1.43 each man — to that of 
another a little more, and to others nothing. And such has been the 
general result of the fisheries for the season just closed. * * * j^ 
would have been better for their owners, in a pecuniary i)oint of view, 
had most of our fishing vessels been suffered for the last two or three 
years to remain at the wharves, instead of being sent either to the banks 
or down to the bay * * *. — (Gloucester Telegraph, JSTovember 17^ 
1841.) 

The whole of the bay fleet are now in [the last two arrivals brought 
home 90 and -80 barrels of mackerel, respectively, besides from 100 tx> 
200 quintals of codfish. Four Gloucester vessels reported as seized and 
condemned at Halifax for alleged violations of the treaty]. — (lb.) 

1842. — Arrivals from george's. 

Six schooners, reported in Gloucester Telegraph of August 10, 1842,. 
arrived from George's Bank with fares of mackerel ranging from 20 to 
140 barrels each. August 18, five schooners from George's with fares 
varying from 25 to 120 pounds. 



[237] history of the mackerel fishery. 

1842. — Success of the south shoremen. 

We learn from a frieucl at Plymouth that the cod and mackerel fish- 
ermen at that place have been unusually successful thus far this sea- 
son. — Bay State Democrat — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 27, 1842.) 

1842. — Arrival of mackerel catchers 

For the week ending September 7, 1842, eight mackerel schooners are 
reported in the Gloucester Telegraph, with fares ranging from 5 to 126 
barrels, the tot£^l being 416 barrels, or an average of 52 barrels each. 

The following vessels [23 in number] have arrived since our last 
Wednesday's paper, with fares varying from 10 to 100 barrels and up- 
wards. The above are the fleet that sailed from the 1st to the 10th of 
August. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 14, 1842.) 

1842. — Poor success of the bay men. 

Arrived 24th, schooner "George Parker," from Bay Chaleur, 8 barrels 
mackerel. The G. P. brings accounts of Gloucester vessels, three months 
out, with less than 30 barrels. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 26, 1842.) 

1842. — Scarcity of fall mackerel on new England shore. 

No mackerel of consequence have been caught the last three weeks. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, October 8, 1842.) 

Arrived 20th, about 150 sail of mackerel fishing vessels ; report mack- 
erel very scarce, none having been taken for the past fortnight. — (Glou- 
cester Telegraph, October 22, 1842.) 

1843. — Unfavorable outlook for the mackerel fishery. 

A writer in the Gloucester Telegraph of August 30, 1843, says : "At 
the present date the catch of mackerel falls far short of last year's, but 
it is very uncertain how it will terminate. The prospect is considered 
by our mo^t experienced fishermen as not encouraging." » 

1843. — Success of the hingham fleet. 

We are ha^jpy to hear that this business, so important to our town, 
bids fair to be more successful this season than it has been for many 
years. Our mackerel vessels are returning with fuller fares than usual 
at this season of the year, some of them lately arrived having brought 
in from 80 to 100 barrels. — Ringham Patriot. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
July 15, 1843.) 

1843. — Abundance of mackerel on nova scotia coast. 

The Halifax papers state that the coast of Nova Scotia is now visited 
by mackerel and herring in larger quantities than ever were known at 
this season. In the Straits of Canso the people are taking them with 
seines, a circumstance without a parallel for the last thirty years. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, August 10, 1843.) 



eepoet of commissioner of fish and fisheries. [238] 

1843. — Scarcity op mackerel in nova scotia. 

Captain Stephens, the commander of one of the provincial revenue 
cruisers, published a letter in the last Acadian Recorder, which states 
that * * * the mackerel fishery in the spring proved remarkably 
unsuccessful, not more than 500 barrels having been taken, where up- 
wards of 23,000 barrels were obtained last year. The subsequent catch 
has, however, been more abundant. — (JSTewburyport Herald, September. 
1843.) 

1843. — Small catch of mackerel by the new England fleet. 

Mackerel sell on arrival at last week's quotations. (No. 1, $10 ; No. 2, 
$8 ; No. 3, $5.75 per barrel.) There has been no great accumulation this 
week, and we quote the article as before. The catch will probably fall 
one-fourlh to one-third short of what it was last year. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, October 30, 1843.) 

1843. — Failure of the mackerel fishery. 

The mackerel fishery, says theHingham Gazette, has thus far proved 
a poor business. Some vessels arrive in port with hardly fish enough 
to pay the expenses of the trip. — (Barnstable Patriot, October 4, 1843.) 

1844. — Doings op the mackbrelmen; poor catch. 

The mackerel fishermen have done but little lately. Most of the vessels 
heard from are clean, or nearly so. So says the Yarmoutii Eegister. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, July 24, 1844.) 

The mackerel fishermen have been very unsuccessful for the last two 
months, the catch, which commenced well in the early part of the sea- 
son, having suddenly declined. A schooner arrived at this place on 
Tuesday from a six weeks' cruise, with only six barrels of mackerel on 
board. — Yarmouth Eegister. — (Gloucester Telegraph, Augiist 21, 1844.) 

1844. — The mackerel fishery of hingham. 

The Hingham Patriot publishes a list of 23 vessels from that port 
which have been employed in the mackerel fishery during a part or the 
whole of the last summer, with the number of barrels of mackerel packed 
by each, amounting in all to 8,097 barrels, or an average of 356 barrels 
to each vessel. There are five other vessels owned in Hingham, whose 
names are not given, which packed 1,170 barrels, making in all 9,267 
barrels. — (Gloucester Telegraph, November 27, 1844,) 

1845. — A GOOD HAUL. 

"We learn that Holmes & Co., at Manomet Ponds, who were seining 
for menhaden, on Thursday afternoon last, in drav^ing their seine, found 
thev had inclosed about a hundred barrels of mackerel. Barrels and 



[239] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

salt were sent from town yesterday morning for tbe purpose of packing 
them. — (Plymouth Memorial, July, 1845.) 

1845. — Mackerel abiindant in Gloucester harbor. 

For a few days past our harbor has been filled with mackerel, and. on 
Monday about 400 barrels, it is estimated, were taken in seines, vessels, 
boats, and on the wharves. Upwards of a hundred barrels were taken 
in a seine at one haul. Considerable many were taken yesterday, but 
not in such quantities as on Monday. The visit of this fish to our har- 
bor has afforded rare sport to such of our inhabitants who have never 
been a mackereling, but it will not last long, as the fish will take a start- 
off in a day or two. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 9, 1845.) 

1845. — Canning of mackerel. 

In an extract from theEastport Sentinel, published in the Gloucester 
Telegraph of August 30, 1845, mention is made of the packing at East- 
port, by Messrs. Treat, Noble & Co., of 3,000 cans of fresh mackerel. 

1845. — Mackerel in the bays op maine ; A big haul at prov- 

INCETOWN. 
» 
. Our piscatory visitors have nearly all left us and gone "down east.'^ 
The Belfast Signal, of Thursday last, states that mackerel are quite 
plenty in that bay. 

The Yarmouth Eegister is informed that at Provincetown, week be- 
fore last, they seined about 1,00® barrels of mackerel at one haul. Those 
who took them gave half for dressing, but they were enabled to save 
only 500 barrels. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 23, 1845.) 

1845. — Abundance of mackerel on the new England coast. 

So many mackerel have not made their appearance in our bay [Ips- 
wich Bay] for many years before ; while the fishermen who have gone 
down to the Bay Chaleur, the principal place of the fishery, have had 
less success. 

It will be seen by an item in the ship news, that the Gloucester fish- 
ermen, who came in full at the close of the week, report about 500 vessels 
busily engaged in fishing in the bay. The mackerel brought in now are 
mostly branded small No. 2. — Newhuryport Herald. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, September 20, 1845.) 

1845. — No MACKEREL ON GEORGE'S. 

Arrived at Hyannis 9th, schooner "Eesolve," and two other mackerel 
catchers from George's Bank; absent ten days; caught nothing. — (Glou- 
cester Telegraph, September 16, 1845.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [240] 

1839 to 1846. — Nova Scotia fisheries. 

The exports of mackerel from the port of Halifax during the years 
1839 to 1846 inclusive, show that considerable attention was given to 
this fishery on the coasts of Nova Scotia thirty years ago.* 

No. of barrels. 

1839 19, 127 

1840 25, 010 

1841 - . - 35, 917 

1842 54, 118 

1843 „ 71, 854 

1844 50, 698 

1845 38, 320 

1846 .....: 82, 645 

1847. — Scarcity of mackerel. 

The catch of mackerel thus far this season, says the Gloucester Tele- 
graph, has been small in comparison with that of the two past years. The 
number of barrels taken on the coast has greatly diminished, and the 
prospects being so unfavorable, many of our vessels have gone to the Bay 
Chaleur. The fares that have arrived at this port are readily sold at 
good prices as soon as landed, and are immediately shipped to the great 
markets of New York and Philadelphia. — (Barnstable' Patriot, October 
6, 1847.) 

1847. — Unprofitableness of the mackerel fishery. 

Mackerel fishing has not prospered to such a degree as the cod-fish- 
ery, none of the small number of crafts engaged in the business from 
this port, having obtained a fall cargo. — (Barnstable Patriot, October 
13, 1847.) 

1847. — Abundance of mackerel about sable island. 

Mackerel were very abundant in the vicinity of Sable Island, and the 
fisheries committee of the house of assembly of Nova Scotia urged the 
granting of a bounty to all vessels engaged in the deep-sea mackerel 
fishery. This was not adopted. — (Journal and Proceedings of the House 
of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, 1857, Appendix 75.) 

1845 to 1848. — Importance of the mackerel fishery. 

From the Barnstable Patriot we quote the following review of the 
mackerel fishery of Massachusetts from 1845 to 1848 : 

"The yearly inspection of returns of maclterel, show plainly that there 
is no more important branch of the fishing business carried on in this 

* Inspected. 



[241] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

State than the mackerel fishery. From 1831 to 1840, the dep-eciation 
m the catch was 333,225 barrels; and from 1840 to 1845, the increase 
was only 36,270 barrels, during which, a period of thirteen years, the 
business had become nearly prostrated, and with it nearly all those who 
were engaged in it. In 1845, unexpectedly large shoals of mackerel ap- 
peared on our coast between Cape Ann and Cape Cod, of a small, uni- 
form size, about 12 inches in length, but very fat. Owing to these fish 
being so near home, but little or no time was lost by the fishermen in 
going out and returning with fnll fares, except the delay in procuring 
barrels to put their fish in. At the close of the season the inspection 
returns showed an increase of 110,122 barrels from the previous year. 
This gave an impulse to the business. 

" In 1846 this great shoal of mackerel did not return again on our coast, 
which disappointed the hopes of the fishermen, especially those who 
depend upon their small boats for a living. At the close of the season 
the catch had fallen ofl* 28,439 barrels. Not being so easily discouraged 
by this depreciation in one year, they entered into business with reneweu 
energy and enterprise, and were crowned with great success during the 
next year. In this year, 1847, the fishermen did not find any mackerel 
on our coast of much account, until late in the season, when a large 
school appeared off Cape Cod, called the 'Chatham school,' from which 
great quantities have been taken of the best mackerel that have been 
in the market for many years. All other mackerel, elsewhere, bore no 
comparison with these, either for size, fatness, or goodness. Unfortu- 
nately, however, for the Newburyport and Gloucester fishermen, they 
were nearly all in the Bay of Chaleur; for the mackerel which they 
brouglit home were of an inferior quality. This great difference between 
the two kinds caused much complaint, and created for a time some 
little excitement and feeling among the dealers both at home and abroad, 
which resultedin establishing a greater confidence in the different brands, 
and a more uniform cull, and a higher standard of inspection in 1848. 

"The inspection returns in 1848 show that the increase is 67,518 bar- 
rels. More than one-half of this number are No. 3, and only one-quarter 
are No. 1. This great increase of No. 3 is owing chiefly to the mackerel 
which came from the Bay of Saint Lawrence, denominated 'Bay Cha- 
leur,' being a poorer quality than those taken on our coast. For the last 
two or three years the mackerel in that quarter have been depreciated 
gradually both in size and quality. Formerly the best mackerel we had 
in the market came from that place, and they demanded the highest 
price, and were very much sought after, on account of their suj)erior 
size and fatness. 

"At one time the George's mackerel were all the rage, on account of 
their size ; but within the past two years the Chatham mackerel have 
taken the lead, with the exception of that extraordinary fat school which 
appeared oft' Gloucester early in September. The mackerel taken from 
this school are said to be su])erior in size and fatness to any ever before 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [242] 

or since taken by our fishermen. It is estimated that there were up- 
wards of 50,000 barrels taken from this school by our fishermen in the 
course of ten or fifteen days, which inspected nine-tenths I^To. 1, and 
this accounts for the increase in their number ; otherwise there would 
have been a great deficiency in this branch. 

"The increased consumption of No. 1 mackerel up tothis time had been 
fully equal to the supply, according to the best information obtained on 
the subject ; but the Nos. 2 and 3 mackerel coming more directly in com- 
petition with the English fish, on account of the low rate of duty, it is 
fair to calculate that the j)rices will rule much lower than the usual dif- 
ference between the jSTo. 1 and 2, especially in those years of a large 
catch. 

"The English mackerel which have come into this market under the 
brand of iSTo. 2 are of a fair quality, but none are fat enough to make 
No. 1, compared with the present standard of our inspection; therefore 
there will be less inducement for the trade to speculate in English 
mackerel with a view of re inspection, as formerly." — (Barnstable Pa- 
triot, January 31, 1849.) 

1848. — Large school of mackerel in the south channel. 

The largest school of mackerel Captain Harding ever saw was in the 
south channel about the year 1848. It w^as a winrow of fish. It was 
about half a mile wide and at least 20 miles long, for vessels not in sight 
of each other saw it at about the same time. All the vessels out saw 
this school the same day. 

1848, — Abundance of mackerel in the gulf of saint Law- 
rence. 

A gentleman who came up from Point Escuminac a few days ago says 
that the Prince Edward Island Gazette informs us that during the last 
fortnight there have been from 40 to 50 American schooners about two 
miles from the Point, the crews of which had been busily engaged in 
catching mackerel, and so abundant are the fish that they have hired 
I)ersons from the shore to assist them. Some of them had 300 barrels 
on board. — Halifax paper. — (Barnstable Patriot, September 20, 1848.) 

1848.— Immense schools of mackerel off cape ann. — supposed 

EARLY departure. 

The mackerel which were reported in such immense schools off Cape 
Ann week before last have been completely broken up or quitted the 
shores. The vessels took but a few last week. It is about time for 
mackerel to make their annual visit to the shores of Caj^e Cod. We 
have no fear that our fishermen will fail to bait them well and see that 
they don't suffer for want of salt. — (Barnstable Patriot, October 4, 
1848.) 



[243] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1848. — A LATE SCHOOL OF MACKEREL OFF CAPE COD, AMD GREAT 

ABUNDANCE. 

In 1848 large mackerel kept in close to Cape Auu. Two hundred and 
fifty vessels. Pilot found them abundant 2Qth November off Three- 
light Nauset. One hundred and fifty vessels. 

Captain Wixon, schooner " Hamilton," of Dennis, in debt $250 Sep- 
tember 15, and towards the end of the season made three trips (Novem- 
ber) without taking off his oil clothes ; made $900. 

1849. — Scarcity of mackerel in the early^ summer. 

The vessels that have arrived in this vicinity from mackerel voyages 
have brought in very small fares. The Yarmouth and Dennis fleets, 
which have just arrived from a two months' cruise, have packed, at an 
average, about 50 barrels to each vessel. — (Barnstable Patriot, June 

27, 1849.) 

1849. — Abundance of mackerel off the coast of maine. 

Mackerel catchino. — A fleet of nearly 200 vessels, says the Port- 
land Advertiser of the 13th instant, was in the offing on Wednesday after 
mackerel. The mackerel were very abundant, and took the bait well 
in round the shores and reefs. — (Barnstable Patriot, July 25, 1849.) 

3849. — The mackerel fishery. 

About 150 fishing vessels came into our harbor on Saturday p. m., 
21st July, there being an appearance of a st.orm coming on. This was 
quite an unusual circumstance for this period of the year, as the mack- 
erel are not in any quantity off* our cape until the latter part of August 
and during the months of September and October. These vessels, we 
learn, had on board from 10 to 40 wash-barrels each, which they had 
taken during the ijrevious week or ten days, which was rather slim do- 
ings. 

There had been two arrivals this season from Bay Chaleur, and 
although they had an average fare, the men employed made poor wages 
in consequence of the low price of the article. We understand that but 
few vessels have gone to the bay this year, in consequence of the poor 
luck they have experienced at that place for a few years past. — (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, August, 1849.) 

1849. — A BIG FARE FROM THE BAY. 

September 26, 1849, the schooner " Canton," Capt. Edward Watson, was 
reported arrived at Gloucester Monday week from Bay Chaleur, vdth 
600 barrels mackerel, the largest number of barrels ever caught and 
brought into that jiort by one vessel uj) to that time. The " Canton " was 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER 07 FISH AND FISHERIES. [244] 

100 tons burden, manned by 18 hands, and had been absent three months. 
She reported very few vessels at the bay, and the prospect good. The 
whole Gloucester fleet at that time were on this coast, and were doing 
very poorly, and the prospects were not favorable for a heavy catch. 
At Gloucester there were 200 sail of Cajje Cod vessels at anchor in the 
harbor, and many vessels had arrived at that port, absent four or five 
weeks, with only 40 barrels of mackerel. The trips averaged about one- 
third No. 1. 

1849. — Fall mackerel pkhery of cape cod bay. 

The mackerel fishermen in several of the towns of the Cape during 
the months of October and November brought in good fares, which has 
helped to make up for an otherwise poor season's business. We learn 
that the mackerel caught off Chatham by fishermen in the south part of 
Dennis and Harwich during these months amount to more than $100,000, 
The vessels packing at the new establishment of Messrs. Fred. Scudder 
& Co., in the south part of this town, caught during the same time 
mackerel to the amount of more than $10,000, and several vessels pack- 
ing at Messrs. Baxter & Bragg's returned with some thousands in value. 
All this was earned after many of the vessels of the Cape had hauled 
up. — (Barnstable Patriot, December 12, 1849.) 

1849. — Eeminiscewces of capt. j. w. collins. 

The mackerel off the New England shore in 1849 were all large fish 
and fairly abundant. That summer I made my first trip mackerel fish- 
ing, going out as one of the crew of the pinkey Walker. We fished off 
Mount Desert Eock, and caught 40 barrels of fine, large mackerel in 
three or four weeks. At that time each one of the crew was provided 
with a hogshead tub to strike their fish in; the mackerel were salted in 
butts, which were stowed on their heads in the hold, the catch of each 
one of the crew being counted by the splitter and placed to his credit. 
The pinkies of those days had no cabin aft, all hands sleeping in a dingy 
little cuddy forward, where the meals were also prepared and eaten. 

1850. — Scarcity of mackerel. — influence of bluefish on the 
movements of mackerel. 

The following extract, copied from the Newburyport Herald by the 
Gloucester Telegraph of September 4, 1850, gives an idea of the mack- 
erel fishery at that date : 

^•We have never known fresh mackerel so scarce in this market in the 
season for them as they have been this year. Up to the present time 
no good mackerel, suitable for the table, have found the way here; and 
considering how very desirable they are in dog days as an article of 
food, it is quite a calamity to the lovers of good fish. Some attribute 
the scarcity of mackerel in our bay to the presence of the bluefish. 



[245] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

which within a few years have visited our shore and rivers in great 
abundance. From the movements of the bluetish in our rivers, and their 
savag^e treatment of the smaller fish which come in their way, we are 
not surprised that the mackerel should give them a wide berth. 

" Fresh mackerel are not very scarce here, but the amount of fares 
of salted ones this season have been very small. Yesterday made thir- 
teen days since we had an arrival of a fishing craft witli mackerel of 
any description, either from our bay or from the Bay Chaleur. We 
think they cannot be plenty upon any of the usual fishing-grounds. 

"If they are not taken more plentifully in course of the next six or 
eight weeks, the catch must be very limited and the season an unpro- 
pitious one for those engaged in the mackerel fishery." 

1850. — EeMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

In 1850 I went as one of the schooner " Mercy and Hope " to the 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence, starting on our trip about the 1st of June. 
The mackerel were large that year in the Gulf, but not very abundant. 
The fishing- grounds over which we cruised the most were round Gaspe, 
Bonaventure, Bay of Chaleur, off Point Miscou, the West Shore, and 
around the north cape of Prince Edward Island, and on Banks Bradley 
and Orphan. We were absent from home sixteen weeks, and succeeded 
in taking only 175 barrels of mackerel with a crew of eleven men, all told. 

In the fall of the same year I shipped in the schooner " Three Sis- 
ters," and we fished from Portland to Chatham. An enormous school 
of mackerel was found by the fleet off Cape Cod, near Chatham, that 
tall, some time from the 1st to the 15th of November. The fish, which 
were exceedingly fine and large, took the hook very readily, and large 
catches were made by most of the vessels, some of them succeeding in 
obtaining a full fare in three or four days' fishing. 

The fleet was a very large one, and was estimated to be about 700 sail. 
Sharp vessels were then just coming into use, and the "Mary S. Won- 
son," " Jennie Lind," and a few others of that class were looked upon 
as very remarkable for their beauty and sjjeed. We did not reach the 
fleet until the "spurt" was nearly over, and, in consequence, did rather 
poorly. Our skipper, feeling rather chagrined at his ill luck, determined 
to stay on the fishing-ground in hopes that he could catch some fish from 
a later school. In this, however, he was disai)pointed, since we caught 
no mackerel of any importance, though we did not leave the fishing- 
ground off' Chatham, except for a harbor in stormy weather, until the 
5th day of December. 

1850. — Slim doinos of the cape cod fishermen. 

Our mackerel fishermen, we regret to say, are doing a very slim busi- 
ness this year. A gentleman who has lately made a tour of the Cape 
informs us that there are not at present U,000 barrels of mackerel in the 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [24 6 j 

country. Two years ago, at the same season of the year, he counted 
over 20,000 barrels on the wharves of the Cape. A much larger fleet is 
now engaged in the business than at that time, and its failure this year 
would greatly depress our enterprising capitalists. We hope, however, 
that that last resort of our fishermen, the school '"oft" Chatham," will 
not disappoint their reasonable expectations. — Yannouth Begister.^- 
(Gloucester Telegraph, October 12, 1850.) 

1850. — Scarcity of mackerel off cape ann in late autumn, 
arrivals from bay, prices, etc. 

The arrivals of mackerel the previous week have been very small. 
Our vessels are doing nothing. Many of them for the last ten days have 
not salted one barrel. There are now in this port some 200 sail of mack- 
erel vessels waiting for the fish to come on this coast. 

There have arrived from Bay Chaleur since our last report about 1,800 
barrels, and sales have been made at $8.75 for Xo. 1, $7 for 2's, and 
$5.12^ for 3's. There now remain about 1,200 barrels in first hands, 
which are held at higher prices. 

There are now but 16 vessels to arrive from the bay, and five which 
have just sailedfor that i)lace. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 26, 1850.) 

The arrivals at this port since our last have been very light. The 
catch in Massachusetts Bay and on the coast of Maine has entirely 
failed for the last mouth past. There have been received from the Bay 
Chaleur this week about 400 barrels. Within a few days more desire 
is manifested to purchase, and sales have been made at $9 for 1, $7 for 
2, $5.12^ for 3, and $4 for 4, leaving but lew in first hands, which are 
held at higher prices. — (Gloucester Telegraph, November 0, 1850.) 

1850.— Quickest bay-trip ever made. 

The clipper schooner " E. W, Merchant " arrived from the Bay Chaleur 
on Friday last with about 200 barrels of jnackerel, having been absent 
from this port only 27 days, which is the quickest trip ever made from 
this place. Beat that who can. — (Gloucester Telegraph, ^sTovember 20, 

1850.) 

1850. — Close of the mackerel season. — last arrival from 

the bay. 

The mackerel season has about ceased. The vessels are now hauling 
up as fast as they arrive. For the last two months not enough has been 
caught by the Massachusetts Bay fishermen to pay the outfits for the 
time. The last vessel from the Bay Chaleur arrived on Friday last. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, November 20, 1850.) 

Our mackerel season has closed with the Massachusetts Bay fisher- 
men with a smaller catch than any season since 1841. The few vessp'-^^ 
that were so fortunate as to go to Bay Chaleur have made fair voyag* 
(Gloucester Telegraph, November 27, 1850.) 



[247] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1841 ao 1851. — Captain Atwood's experience in the mackerel 

FISHERIES. 

" I went again to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 1841, when we 
fished off the Magdalen Islands. We got about 100 barrels of verj^ ex- 
cellent mackerel. They were about all No. I's, I think; there were 
very few Ko. 2's. The next year I also went in the same " Lucy Mary" 
to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, fishing off the Magdalen Islands. I was 
in the bay in 1841 and 1842. We staid there until the end of the season, 
but secured only 60 barrels. I was then master — that is, my brother 
was not with me, and I was master of the vessel. I went home with 60 
barrels. This was my experience in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence up to 
1842. I was there since, in 1851, when I was in a schooner called the 
"William Gray," 58 tons. She* was a small and dull-sailing vessel. I 
thought vre would be much safer off' the Magdalen Islands, and so I 
went there, as I had done during previous years. I staid there until the 
middle of September, but was not very successful, getting only 90 bar- 
rels ; so I concluded to go over to Prince Edward Island and try there. 
I did so, and the next day after my arrival I found that I was in more 
danger at this place than at the Magdalen Islands, for I was that day 
cast away, and I lost my vessel. 

" Q. When vt^as this "? — A. In 1851. I was cast away on Fish Island, 
at the entrance to Malpeque Harbor. 

" Q- Was this in the great gale, or previously ? — A. It was two weeks 
before the great gale. I cleared up my wreck, saved what I could, took 
the mackerel out, and shipped for home, going on board another vessel. 
I was off the mouth of Saint Peter's Harbor when the great gale came 
on, and we were then cast away again. So I was cast away twice in a 
fortnight. This seemed to prove to my mind that Prince Edward 
Island was more dangerous than the Magdalen Islands. 

"Q. You speak of fishing at the Magdalen Islands being safer than 
at Prince Edward Island; explain why it is that you think sol — A. 
Suppose we were at the Magdalen Islands and it looks stormy. If the 
wind is blowing on shore Avhere we are, we just run round to the other 
side of the islands and anchor under the lee. If the wind blows up and 
it becomes stormy, we are there very comfortable, and night or day 
we hold ourselves in readiness tt) g(.',t under way and get to the other 
side again in case the wind should happen to change. Thus I have 
been round and round the islands time and time again. 

" Q. Are the Magdalen Islands regarded by the American mackerel 
fishermen as a safe place? — A. Yes, I think so. 

" Q. And as safe as any in the Gulf? — A. I think so; to a person well 
acquainted with them, they are considered as safe as any i)art of the 
Gulf, and I consider them, for my part, safer. I do not know that every- 
body is of the same opinion, but I think this would be the case if they are 
thoroughly acquainted with the matter." — (Statement of Captain Atwood 
before the Halifax Commission.) 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [248] 

1851. — Cape Cod towns built up by their fisheries. 

Wellfleet, like Provincetown, says the Yarmouth Eegister, isahnost 
entirely built up by the fisheries. Last year some 17,000 barrels of 
mackerel were packed in the town, and a large quantity of cod and other 
fish were brought in by Wellfleet vessels. * * * — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, June 4, 1851. 

1851. — Good catch at Yarmouth, nova scotia. 

The Yarmouth (N. S.) Herald states that large quantities of mackerel 
have been taken in that vicinity.— (Gloucester Telegraph, June 18, 

1851.) 

» 
1851. — Small receipts of mackerel and unusual scarcity. 

Mackerel continue to come in slowly, and have been sold at $4.75 per 
barrel for new No. 3. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 9, 1851.) 

The quantity of mackerel taken by our fishermen so far this season 
has been unusually small. During the last fifteen days less than 200 
barrels have been i^acked, which includes only 2^ barrels fat mackerel. 
About 75 sail of Cape Cod fishermen made a harbor here on Wednesday, 
who report mackerel uncommonly scarce for the season. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, July 12, 1851.) 

1851. — Big mackerel catch at nova scotia. — yankee clippers 

at gaspe. 

From Halifax papers we learn that the catch of mackerel off the east- 
ern coast of Nova Scotia has been very great this season. 

The Gaspe Gazette of July 10 says : " Great numbers of American 
schooners are busily engaged catching mackerel in our waters. Nineteen 
handsome looking Yankee clippers, some of them with their colors flying, 
as if in mockery of the Canadian Government, might have been seen the 
other day from our office windows, fishing within a short distance from 
land."— (Gloucester Telegraph, July 26, 1851.) 

1851. — ^Arrival of bay mackerel. 

Mackerel have been arriving more freely within a day or two from Bay- 
Chaleur, and prices are a shade lower. — (Gloucester Telegraph, Sej)tem- 
ber 20, 1851.) 
1851. — Extraordinary large and fat mackerel from sable 

ISLAND. 

A gentleman yesterday assured us that he had seen in the stores of 
H. Lyle, esq., mackerel taken at Sable Island a short time since that 
had at least an inch thickness of fat on them. Some of these delicious 
fish weighed as much as 7 pounds ! — Halifax Chronicle. — (Gloucester Tel- 
egraph, October 8, 1851.) 



[249] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1851. — Terrible disaster to the bay fleet. 

In the Gloucester Telegraph of October 11, 1851, is reported a dis- 
patch from B. H. IS^orton, esq.. United States consul at Pictou, Nova 
Scotia, which states that 100 sail of American vessels (all mackerel 
catchers) and probably more than 300 lives were lost in the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence, principally on the north side of Prince Edward Island, in a 
terrific northeast gale, which had swept with almost unparalleled vio- 
lence the waters and coasts of that region on the 3d and 4th of October. 
The Telegraph of October 25 gives the loss of lives, as then ascer- 
tained, as 100. 

1851. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

In 1851 the mackerel, though abundant off the New England shore, 
were of small and medium size, and were so low in price that the ma- 
jority of the fleet went to the Bay of Saint Lawrence, where large fish 
could be obtained. About the 1st of July I shipped in the schooner 
•' Brutus," about 40 tons, old measurement, and made a trip mackerel- 
fishing in the Bay of Fundy. Having obtained a fare in four or five 
weeks, we packed out in Portland, and thinking we might do better else- 
where, we went to the Bay of Saint Lawrence. There we caught a trip 
of 160 barrels in about three or four weeks' time, taking these almost 
wholly in and about the bend of Prince Edward Island, a large part of 
them near Malpec. We left the fishing- ground on our return home about 
the last of September, just in time to escape the terrible gale which 
wrought such devastation among the large fleet of American mackerel 
schooners which at that time were in the bend of Prince Edward Island. 
It is now a matter of history that the northern shore of this island was 
strewn with the wrecks of vessels and bodies of drowned fishermen 
which were lost in this October gale. Never before had such a terrible 
disaster occurred to our fishing fleets. So great, indeed, was the loss 
of American vessels that this particular gale has been known to the resi- 
dents of that province as the YanJwe gale. 

1851. — Vessels in the mackerel fleet. 

The following table, comi)iled by Mr. Alexander Starbuck from official 
records, gives the number of vessels, tonnage, and number of men in 
the crews of the mackerel vessels composing the fleet in 1851 : 



Ports. 


Number of 
vessels. 


Tonnage. 


Number of 
crew. 




MASSACHUSETTS. 


7 
12 
28 
4 
2 
19 
44 


59G 

701 

1, 918 

2.59 

74 

1, n46 

2,885 


8,5 




97 




339 




47 




U 


Chatham 


230 


Cohasset 


561 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [250] 



Ports. 



Number of 

vessels. 



Tonnasje. 



Number of 
crew. 



Massachusetts — Continued, 

Dartmouth 

Dennis 

Eastham 

Essex 

Gloucester 

Harwicli 

Hingham 

Lynn 

M auchcster '. 

Marblehead 

Martlia's Vineyard 

Nantucket 

Ne wburyport 

Orleans 

Plymoutb 

Province-town 

Eocliport 

Salem 

Scituate 

Salisbury 

Truro ■. , 

"Wellfleet 

Yarmouth 

Total Massachusett.s 

OTIIEE STATES. 

Maine* 

Now Hampshire 

Khode Island 

Connecticut 

Maryland 

Total other States 

Grand total 



1 

47 

3 

1 

241 

48 

37 

4 

1 

1 

6 

3 

67 

5 

6 

61 

42 

1 

13 

4 

f2 

79 

14 



117 

3,096 

170 

71 

13, 639 

3,231 

2,492 

107 

45 

30 

421 

168 

4, 343 

336 

561 

4, 322 
1,537 

80 

715 

305 

3,626 

5, 411 
990 



le 

585 

23 

10 

2, 326 

577 

491 

33 

U 

5 

65 

30 

707 

54 

65 

688 

283 

9 

119 

48 

581 

852 

169 



53, 712 



9.117 



3,019 
515 
479 

1,551 
141 



44G 
84 
71 

255 
25 



5,705 



881 



59, 4 17 



*One of the writers, who was familiar with the mackerel fisliery at this time, takes the responsi- 
bility of saying that there were probably 200 vessels on the coast of Maine in 1851 engaged in the 
mackerel flshei-y, and that Mr. Starbuck's table in this respect is incomplete. 

1852. — First mackerel of the season. — prices. 

Several lots of new No. 3 have been received, tlio first of tbe season, 
and sales have been made at $5.50, and some a shade uuder. — (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, June 9, 1852.) 

1852. — Mackerel reported plenty at western nova scotia. 

The Yarmouth (N. S.) Herald of the 5th instant says : "We rejoice to 
learn that the mackerel fishermen [gill-netters] at Tusket Islands and 
other parts of the coast between Yarmouth and Cape Sable hav^e taken 
good hauls within the last few days." — (Gloucester Telegrai^h, June 19, 

1852.) 

1852. — Successful seining- at isle of shoals. 



Great quantities of these fish [mackerel] have visited our shores the 
past few weeks, and the fishermen at the Shoals have been doing a smart 
business. These fish are rather shy of the hook, but are taken in seines 



[251] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

in great numbers. One or more fishing-smacks may at all times be seen 
at Star Island or Smutty ^NTose, waiting for a freight of mackerel for 
Boston market. The musters of these vessels, as soon as a good haul 
is made, purchase the mackerel of the fishermen as soon as they are 
taken from the net, and immediately set sail for Boston, where they 
arrive by the time the splitters have prepared the fish for market. 
Five or six thousand are frequently taken at one haul of the seine, and 
sell at from 1^ to 2 J cents apiece. Several seine-owners have already 
made $1,000 each since the coming of these fish, and those engaged in 
setting and hauling not infrequently bag $10 or $15 for a day's work. 
* * * — Portsmouth Messenger. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 31, 
1853.) 

1852. — First seizure of an American vessel for fishing off 
prince edward island. 

Schooner " W. R. Burnham" has arrived at Boston from Prince Edward 
Island, having on board two of the crew of schooner Lion, of Brooklyn, 
which vessel was taken into Charlottetown by the Nova Scotian armed 
cutter Telegraph for violation of the treaty. This is the first instance 
of seizure for fishing ott" Prince Edward Island. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
August 11, 1852.) 

1852.— British cutters in bay of saint lawrencb disguised 
to insure the capture of american schooners. 

An exchange paper says : " Captain Whitraore, of Deer Isle, Maine, 
states that the commanders of the British cruisers in the Bay of Saint 
Lawrence are in the habit of disguising their vessels as fishermen, so as 
to decoy the American vessels within their reach, when they become 
fishers of men and of prize-money. This is true ; and some of the tricks 
resorted to in years past by some of the i)rovincial officers would dis- 
grace any sailor. The present year the colonial vessels are said to look 
more like common merchant vessels than armed cruisers, and are dis- 
tinguished from others only when they have the pennant up, which is 
not always the case."— (Gloucester Telegraph, October 18, 1852.) 

1852. — American mackerel schooners not permitted to fish in 

BAY CHALEUR, and OTHERWISE ANNOY'ED BY BRITISH CRUISERS. 

Schooner " Mary Mies," Captain Pool, arrived yesterday from the Bay 
of Saint Lawrence. Captain Pool informs us that the steamship " Devas- 
tation " will not allow the fishermen to fish in the Bay of Chaleur. He and 
others were driven out. There were plenty of fat mackerel there, six 
and seven miles from the shore, and had he been allowed to fish he could 
have filled his vessel with three or four hundred barrels, whereas he only 
brought home one hundred. The captain of the "Devastation" told 
Captain Pool that he should not allotv them to fish in the Bay of Chaleur^ 
or within three miles of any of the bays. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [252] 

The officers of tlie steamer were making every effort to catch the ves- 
sels, and resorted to many tricks in order to entrap them. Captain 
Pool states that the steamer had several times come suddenly round 
Point Miscou (in order to catch the American fishermen unawares). 
Among other things, the officers of a cutter, when they boaided a ves- 
sel, even if she were six or seven miles from the shore, would feel of the 
fishing-lines to see if they were W7e^. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 21, 

1852.) 

1852. — Scarcity op mackerel. 

The Gloucester Telegraj)h says returns of mackerel at that port for 
the past year fall short full one-half of what the receipts were last year; 
cause, trouble with the English. Prospects for remainder of season not 
favorable, and if vessels now out return with more than half a fare it is 
more than is anticipated. — (Barnstable Patriot, August 28, 1852.) 

1852. — Arrivals from the bay. — reported interference op 

BRITISH cruisers. 

There have been several arrivals from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence since 
our last, and they confirm our previous statements in regard to not being 
allowed to fish in the Bay of Chaleur. * * * These vessels were 
obliged to return home without obtaining a full fare; could they have 
fished in the Bay of Chaleur they would have filled their vessels with 
fat mackerel. * * *— (Gloucester Telegraph, August 25, 1852.) 

1852. — A SCHOOL OF MACKEREL OFF CAPE ANN. 

Quite a " school " of mackerel have been around our shore during the 
week past, and our Eockj}ort friends have reaped a rich harvest. Some 
of the boats from our harbor have taken large quantities, but we under- 
stand they had struck off yesterday. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 

28, 1852.) 

1852. — Reported scarcity of mackerel in the bay. 

Two or three vessels have arrived since our last, but they bring no 
news of importance, except a scarcity of mackerel. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, September 18, 1852.) 

1852 — The mackerel season drawing to a close. — small catch 
of the fleet due to trouble in bay of saint lawrence. 

The fishing season for mackerel is fast drawing to a close, and there 
are but few weeks left before the vessels will be hauled up. The re- 
turns of mackerel this year at this port fall short full one-half of what 
the receipts were at this time last year. This, owing mainly to the 
trouble at the Bay of Saint Lawrence, the vessels being obliged to keep 
farther from the shore than they heretofore have done, for fear the offi- 



[253] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

cers of the cutters would say they were within the limits, and seize 
them. Kot being allowed to flsh in the Bay of Chaleur is another cause, 
as our vessels in years past have sometimes obtained full fares theie, 
and would have done so this year could they have fished in that bay, as 
it was fall of mackerel. Last year at this time many of the vessels 
had returned from their second trips, but now there are many who have 
not returned from their first, and there will be but few who will make 
more than two. 

The prospect for the remainder of the season is not very favorable, 
and if those vessels now at the bay return with more than half a fare, 
they will do better than is now anticipated. The fish at this season 
tend mostly in-shore, and at the best fishing grounds there are two or 
three cutters who will keep the Americans oft", and they will therefore 
not be able to do much. 

The quality of mackerel this season has been different than for a few 
years past. Those brought from the bay have been very large and 
handsome, and commanded high prices; while those taken oif our coast 
have been smaller and not of so good quality. Sales have been made 
this week of several trips of bay mackerel at the Ibllowing rates: No. 
I's, $12; li's, $10; 3's, $0.75. Shore mackerel have brought $9|, $7|, 
and $5^ for the three I^os. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 25, 1852.) 

1852. — Loss OF MANY MACKEREL SCHOONERS IN THE BAY. 

The Gloucester Telegraph of October 30, 1852, reports the loss of 21 
vessels at Souris, Prince Edward Island, in a heavy gale which took 
place on the 15th of that month. The vessels went into that harbor 
with the wind NE., but it shifted suddenly round to the SSW., and 
they could not get out. 

1852. — EEMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

In the spring of 1852 I went south on a mackerel trip in the schooner 
"Science," of about 50 tons, old measurement. We started about the 
1st of May, and were gone four or five weeks, bringing to Boston a fare 
of 4; sea packed barrels. Our fishing ground was from Barnegat to 
Block Island, i hough we caught but few mackerel south or west of Fire 
Itslaud. At this time all of the vessels belonging to Ils^orthern Kew 
England i)orts salted their spring catch of mackerel, and generally 
packed them north of Cape Cod. A considerable number of sloop 
smacks, belonging at Noaiik and New London, Conn., engaged in the 
spring mackerel fishery to supply the New York market, taking the fish 
in alive in their wells. Their crews fished with poles, as anglers do for 
trout, being thus enabled to drop the mackerel into the well without 
touching them, even from the extremities of this vessel. In June we 
went to the Bay of Saint Lawrence, where we caught about 150 barrels, 
being absent from home nearly seven weeks. The mackerel were of 
large size that year in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, but not very abuu- 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [254] 

dant. Off tlie E"ew England coast tliey were very plentiful and in fine 
condition, though of medium size, scarcely any, or none, being large 
enough to pack for No. I's. After returniug from the Gulf we fished off 
the New England coast from Mount Desert Eock to Cape Cotl, though 
Ave did the best off and around Monhegan Island during the month of 
August and early in September. At that time a large fleet was fishing 
oft" the Maine coast. 

1852. — Mackerel fishery of new Brunswick in 1852. 

Perley, in his Eeport on the Fisheries of New Brunswick for 1852, 
says: "It must be considered settled that the mackerel fishery as a 
branch of business cannot be said to exist in New Brunswick, although 
the eastern shores of the province and the whole Bay of Chaleur offer 
the greatest facilities and most abundant sux^ply of fish. 

" It is highly desirable that something should be done to encourage and 
promote this fishery, which evidently offers such ample reward to the 
energy, enterprise, and industry of the people." — (Page 16.) 

1853. — The armament in provincial waters for brbakino up 
the american mackerel fishery. 

The St. John New Brunswicker, of the 31st ultimo, announces the ar- 
rival at St. John of H. M. ketch " Netley," which is to be stationed in the 
Bay of Fundy for the protection of the fisheries this season. H. M. 
screw steamship " Plumper," fitting out in England, is also expected to 
be stationed in the bay. H. M. steamers " Basilisk," "Vixen," and "Dev- 
astation" are to be stationed at Newfoundland and in the Gulf; and four 
brigan tines or schooners are to be immediately fitted out at Halifax for 
the Gulf, each under the command of a lieutenant in the navy, with 
twenty-five picked men in each from the flag-ship " Cumberland." These 
vessels, says the Brunswicker, with other arrangements for an efficient 
boat service at several of the most favorable resorts in the Gulf for 
American mackerel fishers, will doubtless prove the means of preventing 
encroachments this season, and tend greatly to break up the American 
mackerel fishery in the Saint Lawrence. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 
4, 1853.) 

1853. — Mackerel in western nova scotia. 

The Yarmouth Herald says: "We are glad to hear that mackerel 
have been abundant at the Tusket Islands during the past week. In 
tvs^o days two seines secured over 600 barrels. Within the last few 
days a considerable quantity of small mackerel and fat herring have 
been caught in this harbor." — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 16, 1853.) 

1853. — First arrival from the bay— reported scarcity of 

mackerel. 

The "Leonard McKenzie" arrived at this port on Sunday from the Bay 
of Saint Lawrence; reports mackerel as not being very plenty, and 
the vessels were not doing much. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 20, 1853.) 



[255] history of the mackerel fishery. 

1853. — Mackerel in Gloucester harbor. 

A large school of mackerel has been in our harbor this week, which 
has given our shore fishermen a good benefit, and many of them have 
improved it. The fish are larger than those here a week or ten days 
previous. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 30, 1853.) 

1853. — Successful purse-seining on new England shore. 

The Newburyi^ort Union states that the schooner "Ada" [arrived] at 
that i)ort on Wednesday with 320 barrels of mackerel. This is her second 
trip in our bay, in both of which she has taken 500 barrels ; most of 
them have been caught with a seine. What other mackerel vessel has 
done as well as that this year '1 — (Gloucester Telegra^jh, August 3, 1853.) 

The ISTewburyport Union states that the schooner "Ada" has comi)leted 
her third trip in eleven days, with 300 barrels, making a total of 850 
barrels in less than two months. We do not recollect that any vessel 
from this place has ever done so well before ; and at the present prices 
of mackerel she will pay a handsome profits to her owners. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, August 13, 1853.) 

1853. — Arrivals and reports from the pay. 

There were several arrivals yesterday from the Bay of Saint Lawrence. 
* * * In some parts of the bay mackerel were plenty, in others 
they were scarce. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 17, 1853.) 

1853. — Success of the swampscott mackerel seiners. 

The schooner "Eomp" and the schooner "Vanguard" of Swampscott 
arrived home last week, having been engaged in mackerel fishing oft 
Boone Island a few days x)ast with remarkable success. One of the 
boats took at one haul of the seine ninetj^-four wash-barrels of mackerel. 
In one day she took 155 barrels. — Lymi Bay State. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, August 31, 1853.) 

1853. — Eeceipts and prices. 

Mackerel remain without change. The arrivals continue moderate 
for the seasen. Sales of large for 113.00, $11.50, and $8.12^, and shore 

at $11.75, $9.72, and $7.50 per barrel.— (J6.) 

1853. — Extreme high prices consequent upon the scarcity of 

mackerel. 

The scarcity of this article (mackerel), and the poor ijrospect, both 
in the bay and off our" coast, has caused the prices to reach a higher point 
this season than ever before known. A trip which arrived on Saturday 
morning, was taken up at $15 J per barrel for No. I's, and other num- 
bers in proportion. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 11, 1853.) 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [256] 

1853. — Areiyals from the bay. 

Quite a number of vessels have arrived since our last from the Bay 
of Saint Lawrence. * * * Fish are reported scarce, and but few of 
the vessels are doing anything. — (lb.) 

1853. — The shore fleet. 

Our harbor was filled up on Thursday with about 200 sail of fishing 

vessels. It was the largest fleet which has been in this season. * * * 
— (Gloucester Telegraph, October 8, 1853.) 

1853. — Destructive gale and loss of vessels at the bay. 

The Gloucester Telegraph of October 8, 1853, contains a report of 
several mackerel schooners in the Bay of Saint Lawrence during a 
heavy gale which occurred on the 29th of September. 

1853. — Arrivals from the bay. 

About 25 vessels have arrived homefrom the Bay of Saint Lawrence 
since Saturday morning. They bring no news of importance, but all 
report stormy weather and a scarcity of mackerel. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, October 26, 1853.) 

1853. — Review of the mackerel fishery for 1853. 

The season for mackerel is fast drawing to a close, but about six 
weeks remaiuiug before the vessels will be hauled up. Present ai)pear- 
ances indicate that the catch will be very small compared with last 
year. At this port not more than one third as many mackerel have 
been packed as there were up to this time last year. The vessels which 
return from the bay do not average half a fare, and those which are fish- 
ing off this coast are doing no better comparatively. There are no 
mackerel around our Capes, which is unusual at this time of the year. 
This scarcity of the article has carried the price up higher than ever 
before known, and the tt ndency is still upward. Sales have been made 
in town, this week, of bay mackerel at $15| for No. I's, $ i3| for 2's, and 
$8 J for 3's; shore do. at $14 for I's, $10| for 2's, $7^ for 3's, and $o^ for 
4's. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 5, 1853.) 

1853. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

In June, 1853, I went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in the schooner 
" Valiant," leaving home about the middle of June. The mackerel were 
large that year in the Gulf, but rather scarce. Some of the vessels 
succeeded, however, in getting fine fares, but we were not so fortunate, 
since we brought back only 60 barrels of mackerel, though absent from 
home six weeks. Medium-sized mackerel were quite plentiful "off the 
coast of Maine in August and September, and some of the vessels did 



[257] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

quite well. A curious thing, however, in connection with the shore- 
fishery that year was, that while mackerel could be caught to a consid- 
erable extent close into the shores of the out-lying islands and around 
the ledges, but comparatively few could be taken farther out to sea. 
The consequence was that many of the vessels were provided with boats 
in which the fish were caught. This was especially the case with those 
fishing round Monhegau Island, where a small tieet of vessels lay in 
the harbor, and the crews went out in boats round the island, catching 
the mackerel close into the rocks. The vessel I was in was one of this 
fleet. On several occasions we found excellent good fishing in our 
boats, frequently not more than a stone's throw from the surf on the 
shore. 

1853. — Success of the spring- mackerel fishery on the coast 
of the united states. 

Several mackerel catchers have returned to Provincetown to pack, 
with liberal success. A large quantity of mackerel have been caught 
in and about the harbor in nets — prospect for fishing remarkably good. — 
(Barnstable Patriot, May 31, 1853.) 

1853. — Newburyport vessels in the gulf of saint laavrence. 

The Newburyj)ort Herald, of Friday a. m., has a letter dated Cascum- 
peque. Prince Edward Island, September 15, which says : 

"It is blowing a gale from the northeast, and this harbor is full of 
vessels, say 120 sail. Hereby I send you a memoraudum of Newbury- 
port vessels and their catch of fish. These vessels aie all here in the 
harbor: 'Gentile,' 230 barrels; 'Paragon,' 100; 'Arctic,' 190; 'Equa- 
tor,' 130; 'Lydia,' 370; 'Palm,' 60; 'M. C. Ames,' 20; 'Augelia,' 70; 
'Ada,' 12; there is quite a fleet near Graspe and some at East Point. As 
a general thing the fleet has been unfortunate." — (Barnstable Patriot, 
October 4, 1853.) 

1854. — Abundance of mackerel on the new England coast. 

Mackerel were unusually plenty on the coast this year. Old fisher- 
men declared them to be more so than at any other time within twenty- 
five years. Considerable quantities were taken from the wharves in 
Lynn. — (History of Lynn, Lewis & Newhall, p. 439.) 

Mackerel. — We learn from the Salem Register that mackerel continue 
abundant in the waters near the city. On Tuesday week, a leviathan of 
the mackerel species, three pounds in weight, was caught near Black 
Rock, and on the same daj^ two others Aveighing five pounds each, were 
captured off Tompkins Island. 

A correspondent of the Herald says that mackerel had made their 
appearance in great numbers during the past week at Danversport, and 
they have been caught by the bushel from the wharves and boats. — 
(Barnstable Patriot, August 8, 1854.) 



REPORT or COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [258] 
1854. — EeMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

In July, 1854, I again went on a mackerel trip to the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence in the pmkey " Julia Ann." The Gulf mackerel that summer 
were large, though rather scarce on the greater part of the fishing 
grounds. A tieet of about fifty sail, of which our vessel was one, did 
remarkably well in August on a small spot of shoal ground lying off to 
the southwest of Cape Gas])e, and known to the local fishermen as 
Yanliee Banh. Instead of fishiag here as in the usual manner, by lying 
to and drifting^ the vessels were all brought to anchor at a short dis- 
tance from each other, and, while fishing, lay sprung np. As a rule the 
mackerel would take the hook only at night and early in the morning, 
at which times they would bite, perhaps, for an hour or two, while dur- 
ing the middle of the day scarcely one could be caught at all. The 
weather at this season was exceptionally fine, and the fleet lay for some 
Aveeks contentedly at anchor. Each morning more or less mackerel 
would be taken, and when they ceased biting, these were dressed and 
salted. In the same manner the fishermen were almost always sure of 
a "sundown spurt." Many of the vessels did excellently well, catch- 
ing more than 200 barrels of fine large mackerel, for which they ob- 
tained a high price, and we, ourselves, succeeded in taking over a hun- 
dred barrels, with a small crew of nine or ten men. This amount, to- 
gether with the fish we had ijreviously caught, made us up a line tare 
of 150 barrels, for which we Obtained a high price. This year the 
schooner "Game Cock," of Hingham, was provided with a peculiar form 
of spring seiue, by which it was expected that a school of mackerel 
which had been tolled alongside of the vessel might all be caught at 
oue time in the net. The schooner was provided with long outriggers, 
irom the bow and stern, by means of which the net could be drawn 
outward from her side, underneath the fish, in such a manner that they 
might be inclosed in a bag of netting — the edges of which would he at 
the water's surface — before they would be aware of it. This contriv ance 
did not, however, succeed very well, and no attempts were made to use 
it, that I am aware of, after this summer in the bay. 

1854. — Poor quality of the mackerel taken in the gulf of 

saint lawrence. 

The Gloucester Telegraph says that " in previous years the quality of 
mackerel taken at the Bay of Saint Lawrence has been mostly large 
and fat, but this year it has been different. In 1853 Gloucester re- 
turned over 20,000 barrels of No. 1 mackerel. This year there will be 
returned scarcely 5,000 of that No. 1" — (Barnstable Patriot, December 
26, 1854.) 

1855. — Mackerel fishery of cape cod. 

Several mackerel fishermen arrived at different harbors on the Cape 
last' week, having from 150 to 180 barrels each. The prospect of the 
iishermen is generally very good. — ( Barnstable Patriot, August 28, 1855.) 



[259] history of the mackerel fishery. 

1855. — Spring fishing in barnstable bay. 

For a week past our bay has been enlivened with the presence of 
quite a fleet ot vessels and boats, engaged in taking mackerel. They 
are quite abundant, and the most encouraging fares are realized. Yes- 
terday a fleet of nearly two hundred sail was in sight from our office, 
and we learn that most of the crews have averaged sonic thirty barrels 
per day for some days past. Persons in boats have, in many instances, 
taken several barrels, and last week Capt. Ainslej' Howes, of Dennis, 
took seven barrels in a single day. These are lucky times for our flsher- 
men. — (Barnstable Patriot, May 20, 1855.) 

1855. — Reported abundance of mackerel south. 

The Newburyport Herald learns from one of the crew of the schooner 
" Flying Cloud," who arrived home by laud on Friday, that all the 
vessels were rapidly filling up, and that the catch of mackerel out 
south, this year, will be greater than for many years past. He reports 
the mackerel to be of large size and of good quality, the coves and har- 
bors being literally swarming with them. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 

6, 1853.) 

1855. — First arrival from the south. 

The schooner "Leader" arrived at IsTewburyport on Saturday. The 
Herald says that this is the first of the fishing vessels arrived from the 
southern coast. The fleet are reported as doing a fair business. The 
"Leader" packed out 101 barrels. Only $6 per barrel offered for the 
catch. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 13, 1855.) 
1855. — Only moderate fares obtained by the southern fleet. 

The Newburyport fleet of southern fishermen are fast arriving home 
with moderate fares, and, at the present prices of mackerel, making but 
small profits. Several of them by falling in with fish ofi' Cape Cod, on 
their way home, were able to add something to voyages that otherwise 
would not have paid. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 27, 1855.) 

1855. — Arrivals from the bay — unprofitable trips. 

Several vessels have arrived within a few days from the Bay of Saint 
Lawrence with tolerable trips of mackerel, so lar as quantity is con- 
cerned, but the quality is poor, and the price is so low that hardly one 
of them will pay their expenses. This, however, is better than last sea- 
son, when many of the vessels came home with only from 15 to 40 bar- 
rels each. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 1, 1855.) 

The Newburyport Herald states that the fishermen of that port are 
fast arriving from the Bay of Saint Lawrence with about average fares, 
and report the fleet not to be doing more than that. If prices keep up 
they will barely make a living business, and if they decline the fisher- 
men will come out at the close of the season where they have often been 
of late years, without enough, take the fleet together, to square their 
bills. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 3, 1855.) 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [260] 

1855. — Large hauls in Halifax harbor. 

The Halifax Colonist of the 3d instant says : " Large hauls of mack- 
erel have been taken, within the last few days, along the shores from the 
head of the Basin to Portuguese Cove, wherever there was a seine set. 
Some of these iish will make superior l^o. I's, and the quantity taken is 
valued at a very large sum of money." — (Gloucester Telegraph, Novem- 
ber 14, 1855.) 

1855. — The baymen. 

All of the bay vessels have now arrived home but three, and those, 
we understand, are on their way. A larger quantity of mackerel has 
been taken this year than last, and some of the vessels have made a 
good year's work, but the average of the vessels is not much better 
than it was in 1854, the expenses of the business being so high and the 
quality of the mackerel being so low. The season closes later this year 
than usual, some of the packers having several trips still on hand to 
pack out. — (Gloucester Telegrapli, Kovember 28, 1855.) 

1855. — EeMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

The spring mackerel on the southern coast, in 1855, were small, aver- 
aging 12 inches or less in length. They were fairly abundant, but being 
so small, and also very poor, were low in price and scarcely worth 
catching. 

In the summer mixed mackerel were very abundant in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence. It should, however, be mentioned that but few of 
these were of large size, that is, of suitable size to cull as No. 1 fish. 
The great majority of the mackerel were of small size, ranging in length 
from lOJ to 12 inches. These were exceedingly plentiful, and, especial- 
ly during the early part of the season, took the hook very readily, so 
that some of the vessels succeeded in obtaining full fares in a very short 
time, in fact, in some cases the only limit being the time required by 
the crews to catch and dress the fish. 

I went south early in May in the schooner " Matilda," about 45 tons, 
old measurement. We fished principally at Sandy Hook and along the 
back side of Long Island. The best day's fishing (about 30 wash-bar- 
rels) was obtained a little to the westward of Montauk Point. We were 
absent about four weeks, bringing to Boston a fare of about 50 barrels 
of salt mackerel. 

About the middle of June I went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 
the same vessel. Our skipper had been one of the " lucky ones" who 
had succeeded in getting a fare of large mackerel on Yankee Bank the 
previous summer, and being fully impressed with the idea that he could 
again do the same, and thinking the small mackerel hardly worth sav- 
ing, he made it a rule to throw away all but the largest fish during the 
first trip ; thus, it frequently happened that, from a catch of twenty to 



[261] HISTORY OF THE MACKP:EEL FISHERY. 

twenty-five barrels, we would not save more than two or three barrels. 
The result of this was that a large part of the best fishing season passed 
away almost unimproved by us. In the end, after four months absence, 
we had to return home with only 160 barrels of mackerel, considerably 
less than a full fare. 

1856. — Eelative importance of the shore and gulf of saint 
lawrence mackerel fisheries. 

According to the Cape Ann Advertiser, the shore mackerel fishery in 
1856 was very unsatisfactory, the mackerel refusing to take the hook. 
The bay fishery was fairly successful. 

1856. — The mackerel fishery of new enoland. 

The Gloucester Advertiser of January, 1857, reviews the season of 
1856 in the following manner : 

"The first trips to the bay were very successful, and the prosiiect to 
the 1st of September very encouraging. The catch of mackerel ex- 
ceedingly large. Mackerel, however, have rated low, and the poor 
success of the last trips to the bay proved very disastrous, and rendered 
the closing up of the season's work very j)oor. Many of the vessels 
have not paid their current expenses, and empty barrels and salt are 
left on the owners' hands." 

1856. — Eeminiscences of capt. j. w. Collins. 

In the summer of 1856 the small mackerel which were found the year 
before in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence had increased in size so that they 
ranged in length from about twelve to twelve and a half inches ; though 
at this time, scarcely any large fish were found in the schools. In July 
I went on a mackerel trip to the Gulf in the schooner "Good Intent." 
After trying a week round the northern ])art of Prince Edward Island 
and on Bank Bradley, we went to the Magdalen Islands, where, about 
the eastern end of the group, we found mackerel abundant, and suc- 
ceeded in obtaining a full fare in two or three weeks. After return- 
ing home and packing out our trip, we fished ofi" the New England 
shore but found mackerel rather scarce, and, like those in the Gulf, of 
medium size. Many of the vessels did excellently well mackerel fish- 
ing in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence this year, bringing home two full 
fares. 

1857. — Slim doinos of the southern fleet. 

Accounts from the southern fisheries have been received. The Bos- 
ton Traveller says the catch has been very slim. A few vessels from 
jSTewburyport were reported. The "Atlas" had the largest number, 80 
barrels ; " Eoanoke," 24 ; " Tyro," 10. The two first weeks of this month 
being considered the best of the fishing season in those waters, there is 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [262] 

a slight chance of their being able to increase their catch sufficient to 
meet their exj^enses. As a general thing the southern fishery does not 
pay to follow. The fleet to these waters every year diminishes, and 
will eventually be abandoned. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 10, 1857.) 

1857. — The price of mackerel enhanced by the demand for 
shipments to california and australia. 

The active demand for mackerel for shipment to California and Aus- 
tralia, says the Boston Traveller, and the comparatively small catch 
thus far has caused an uj)ward tendency in prices, and speculators are 
now paying for No. 2 $12.50, large 3's $9, and small 3's $8 per barrel, 
which are higher prices than we have ever before known. Heretofore 
Philadelphia has controlled the market for these fish, but the New 
Yorkers are now attempting to get this trade in their hands, and it is 
resulting very favorable to the fishermen. As new markets are being- 
opened for shipment, an impetus will be given to this branch of busi- 
ness heretofore unknown. Additions are making to the fleet in all our 
fishing ports, and upon the arrival of the bay men theie is considerable 
competition by the New York and Philadelphia agents to secure fares. 
* * * — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 5, 1857.) 

1857. — Unfavorable reports from the bay. 

A vessel arrived from the Bay of Saint Lawrence yesterday reported 
that the vessels have done but little during the last four or five weeks. 
Mackerel were scarce and the weather very rough. During one fort- 
night but two days were obtained in wiiich the vessel could go out to 
fish. Some of the vessels were coming home with half fares. — (Glou- 
cester Telegraph, October 3, 1857.) 

1857. — Mackerel schooners stranded in the bay. 

A dispatch received in town this morning reports that eleven [Glou- 
cester] vessels went ashore at Cheticamp last Thursday * * * — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, November 3, 1857.) 

1857.. — High line of the biackerel fleet. 

Capt. George Janovin, of the schooner "Eleanor," which arrived yes- 
terday, has made three trips to Bay Chaleur, and packed out 660 barrels 
of mackerel. This being the largest fare caught. Captain Janovin will 
be entitled to wear the laurels tor this season. — {Rewlmryport Herald. 
— (Gloucester Telegraph, November 14, 1857.) 

1857. — Eeminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

This was another year when mackerel were plentiful in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence, and at this time a considerable percentage of them 



[263] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

were of suitable size to be packed for large fisb. As in previous years 
a large fleet of vessels went to tbe Gulf. In July I went to the bay in tbe 
pinkey "Einaldo," 33 tons, old measurement. We fished principally 
along- the north shore of Prince Edward Island from Eastern Point to 
Cascumpec. We succeeded in getting a full fare of mackerel — about 
150 barrels— in five or sis weeks, with a crew of seven men all told. I 
left the " Einaldo " in the Strait of Canso on her return home, and shipped 
on the schooner "Mary Ellen," of Truro, Massachusetts, and returned 
again to the Gulf During September and the first part of October, we 
fished on the north side, or in the waters terme<i the Bend of Prince 
Edward Island, mostly in the vicinity of Malpec, where was gathered 
a fleet of 200 or 300 sail of American mackerel schooners. Mackerel 
were fairlj-^ abundant in that locality, and many of the fleet did well. 
Having secured enough fish to complete our fare early in October we 
left the Bay and came home. After packing out our fish we engaged ibr 
a few weeks in fishing on the Kew England coast, though with indiflereut 
success. The mackerel ofl" our own shores that fall were mostly of small 
size and not very plentiful. The vessels that arrived home with their 
i"ares early in the fall were much more fortunate than those coming in 
at a later date, since the price of mackerel was very much affected by 
the financial panic, which occurred during that autumn. I left the 
"Mary Ellen" a couple of weeks before the close of the season and went 
home. But little was done, however, at mackerel-fishing late in the 
fall. 

1858. — Early staut for the bay. — increase in the bay^ fleet. 

Several vessels have already started on their first trip to the bay ; and 
active preparations are now being made for the fitting out of others, 
which will be ready to sail in the course of a fortnight. The bay fleet 
will be larger this season than last by some thirty sail. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, May 22, 1858.) 

1858. — Arrival of baymen. — scarcity of mackerel. 

Since our last issue there have been several arrivals from the Bay with 
average fares. They report mackerel scarce when they left. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, July 31, 1858.) 

1858. — Early start for the bay. — poor success of the south- 
ern FL^ET. 

The George's fishing has been very dull for the last month or six 
weeks, and a large portion of the fleet are now in port, painting up and 
getting ready for the bay. It is calculated that by the last of the month 
two-thirds of the fleet will be there or on the way. This is earlier than 
usual, and we trust they will return with full fares. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHKRIES. [264] 

Several vessels have arrived witliin a few days from tUe South, where 
they have met with poor success, getting few mackerel. Our vessels 
have never been very successful in the spring mackereliug at the south. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, June 2, 1858.) 

The Yarmouth Register reports that the fishermen who have this 
spring made their usual trips to the southern waters have met vvith poor 
success, the best returning not over 25 barrels. Those who have arrived 
report the whole mackerel fleet as doing a poor business. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, June IG, 1858.) 

1858. — The shore fleet off cape ann. 

Quite a large fleet of mackerel catchers have been visible a few miles 
off the Cape during the past week. Several of them have done well; 
one vessel we learn having caught sixty wash-barrels in one day, others 
have taken twenty-five. They report mackerel plenty, but unusually 
shy of the hook. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 9, 1858.) 

1858. — A GOOD BAY TRIP. 

One of our vessels recently returned from the bay with a fare, the 
proceeds of which amounted to |4,234. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Novem- 
ber 25, 1858.) 

1858. — Last arrival from the bay. 

The last of the bay fleet that is expected to arrive has made her ap- 
pearance, and the mackerel season has closed. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
December 3, 1858.) 

1858. — A BIG day's work. 

The Portland Argus states that one day last week two men engaged 
in fishing off that harbor caught mackerel which they sold for the sum 
of $90. The weight of the mackerel caught was about 1,500 pounds. — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, June 26, 1838.) 

1858. — Mackerel plenty off newburyport. 

Mackerel are now schooling in abundance in Newburyport Bay. The 
schooner Coral seined one day last week, in the vicinity of the Isle of 
Shoals, 30 barrels. — [lb.) 

1$>58. — Small spring catch. 

The Hyannis Messenger says that the catch of mackerel up to the 
present time has not been a quarter of what it was last year. — (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, July 3, 1858.) 



[265] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1858. — The spring fishery at the magdalen isla:^ds. 

We subjoin an extract from a letter dated Port Amherst, Magdalen 
Islands, Tth June. * * * 

We are now taking large quantities of mackerel ; in fact the greatest 
quantity ever taken here will be this spring. About 50 sail of strangers 
are now fishing here. * * * — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 7, 1858.) 

1858. — The bay^ mackerel fleet from Gloucester harbor. 

T\^o hundred and twelve of the fleet liave gone to the Bay of Sahit 
Lawrence, and are manned by 2,550 men and boys. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, July 24, 1858.) 

1858.— Slim doings of the early bay fleet. 

Schooner "John Gerard," from Bay Chaleur, mackereling, ;uii\ cd at 
Newburyport 21st instant, and reports sailing with a fleet of 25 vessels, 
the largest catch of which was 80 barrels. As none of the fleet have 
arrived here, it is supposed they are Cape Co<l or eastern vessels. 
Our skippers prefer staying the whole season in the b;iy to coming lioine 
with fares of 80 barrels and less. — (Gloiiccster Telegraph, August 25, 
1858.) 

Several vessels direct from the bay ha\-c arrived ;it Hiugham and 
Cohasset the past week, with very slim fares, the highest catch being 
about 150 barrels. They report mackerel plenty but will not bite. — 
Gloucester Telegraph, September 8, 1858.) 

1858. — The mackerel fishery^ almost a failure. 

The mackerel fishery seems to have been almost a complete failure 
so far this season, the number caught being small, and the fish small 
and poor. We trust something better may result from the fall fishing. — 
Provincetown Banner. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 15, 1858.) 

1858. — The bay mackerel fishery. 

Though our vessels are not bringing full fares, the mackerel are 
very fine, all large and fat. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 25, 

1858.) 

1858.— Partial failure of the mackerel fishery. 

There is little hope now that any turn in the fisheries will render 
them profitable this year; but the latest accounts from the Bay of Saint 
Lawrence are more favorable, and thoi^e vessels that succeed in taking 
full fares — since the mackerel are uncommonly good and the prices 
liigher — will do well. On our shore the mackerel fishing is not much, 
but the vessels here employed in pollock catching have the promise 
of a good season. The fish that have annually struck into our bay in 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONED OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [266] 

large schools for some years past, are now plenty. — Neu-bitryport Her- 
ald.— {Gloucester Telegraph, October 13, 1858.) 

1858. — Mackeeel maeket. — doings of the shoee fleet. 

Since last reported the market has been inactive. The shore fleet of 
mackerel catchers do not report any success. Last sales at $lL'.50. 
$10.50, and $8.31, for Xos. 1, 2, and 3.— (Gloucester Telegraph, October 
27, 1858.) 

The Yarmouth Eegister reports the arrival last week of a fleet of 
some 50 sail of fishermen at Wellfleet, with from 10 to 25 barrels each. 
They sailed again on Tuesday for another three weeks' cruise, and if not 
more fortunate their gross earnings will be very small.^(Gloucester 
Telegraph, I^^ovember 3, 1858.) 

Over 100 sail of mackerel catchers, says the Proviucetown Banner, 
tarried in our harbor over Sunday. As yet they have not paid their way, 
but still have a faint hope to do something before winter sets in. * * * 
—(Gloucester Telegraph, ISTovember 10, 1858.) 

1858. — Success of the gloucestee baymen. 

Before the last of the present month the last of our fishing fleet will have 
returned and the season will be finished. Some time since, in the midst 
of discouraging news from the bay fleet of mackerel catchers, we ven 
tured to predict that they would bring at least one full fare of mackerel 
which would command high prices. All that have returned up to the 
l)resent writing have proved the truth of our prediction, and those 
which are yet to come— about 75 sail— if the last news be reliable, will 
bring average fares. * * * But reports from other phices seem to 
indicate that the business has been almost a failure this season. The 
Cape Cod fishermen, especially, as we learn, have been peculiarly unfor- 
tunate. Their vessels sent into the bay early, but the poor prospect 
discouraged them, and they returned home to meet the same hard luck, 
and unless they meet with remarkable success in the few days that re- 
main of the season, vessels and crews will be deeply in debt.-— (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, November 13, 1858.) 

1858. — The top and bottom of the mackeeel fisheey. 

One of our vessels recently arrived from the bay with a fine fare, 
the total proceeds of which amounted to $1,231. As a contrast to this 
we will mention the fact that one which had been absent a num ber of 
weeks brought home only 37 barrels.— ((Gloucester Telegraph, Novem- 
ber 24, 1858.) 

1858.— Last aerival feom the bay. 

The last of the bay fleet that was expected to arrive made her appear- 
ance on Saturday.— (Gloucester Telegraph, December 1, 1858.) 



[267] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1858. — Poor success of the kewbuIrypoet bay fleet. 

The whole bay fleet of J^Tewburyport, comprising upwards of fifty ves- 
sels, have returned for the season. The Newburyport Herald says this 
has been a very hard year for the fishermen, and adds : " The result of 
this season may be briefly summed up. The schooner, Young Amer- 
ica, takes the lead, having packed out 500 barrels, stocking ${5,150. 
But seven vessels have more than paid their expenses ; six others have 
barely met their expenses, and the remainder have sunk money." — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, December 4, 1858.) 

1858. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

Early in June I again started for the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on a 
mackerel trip on the schooner "Good Intent." During June and the 
early part of July, we fished along the west shore from Point Miscou 
to Eichibucto; around the north cape of Prince Edward Island, and on 
Bank Bradley. Mackerel were found most plentiful during June and 
early July about Point Escumiuac and in Miramichi Bay. On one 
occasion in June the schooner "Governor," of Deer Isle, Maine, with a 
crew of 12 men, caught more than a hundred wash-barrels in Mirami- 
chi Bay, and nearly every vessel in the fleet, which numbered 40 to 50 
schooners, did well. About the middle of July we went down to the 
east point of Prince Edward Island where our skii)per had secured a 
good fare of fine mackerel the year previous. Here we continued to 
cruise for five or six weeks, going as far up the north side of the island 
as Saint Peters, and as far as Surrey and Georgetown on the south side. 
We found mackerel scarce, however, in that locality, and were obliged 
to return home with a small fare of about 150 barrels; though vessels 
fishing at the Magdalens secured fall fares in a much less time. There 
was a large fleet fishing off the New England coast that fall, and we 
also engaged in the shore mackerel fishery after i)acking out our bay 
trip. Mackerel were not abundant, however, off our own coast, and we 
did rather i)oorly. In October I left the " Good Intent," which was about 
to haul up, and shipped in the schooner "E. W. Merchant," of Gloucester, 
in which I continued for about three weeks. During that time we 
fished all the way frooi Cape Ann to Chatham, including Middle Bank 
and Barnstable Bay. Our success, however, was limited, since wc 
caught only about 30 barrels of mackerel. The " Merchant " was thefirst 
real clipper-schooner in which I had sailed. Her performances seemed 
to me, at that time, quite wonderful. 

1858. — Success of tee gill-net mackerel fishery in cape cod 

BAY. 

The Provincetown Banner of early December, 1858, contained the 
following paragraph : 

"Fat mackerel. — The bay was visited last week with one of the 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [26S] 

finest schools of mackerel that was ever known to enter these waters. 
Those who set nets on Thursday and Friday nights were exceedingly 
fortunate. On both of those nights every net meshed more or less iish, 
while some of them were so loaded with mackerel as to sink; some men 
took as high as 1,500 in one night from their nets. These mackerel are 
large and. fat, packing about 200 per barrel. All those fish do not take 
the hook at this season of the year; those who expect a share of them 
are under the necessity of providing themselves with nets. To knit 
these affords employment during the winter to those who follow the 
business or are hired by them. The success of those who have supplied 
themselves with this apparatus for taking these mackerel is an incentive 
to others, w^ho have neglected to provide it, to spend their leisure 
moments in furnishing themselves with the means of obtaining a share 
with their neighbors in future years. While the profits of the mackerel 
taken in the bay last week will not in all cases, perhaps, fall into the 
hands of the most needy, they will be quite generally distributed and 
many, both in this town and Truro, are to be congratulated most heart- 
ily on their good fortune. Last night 2,000 mackerel were taken off 
here in three nets — a great haul." — (Barnstable Patriot, December 7, 
1858.) 

1859. — Decline of the southern mackerel fishery. — small 
fleet from gloucester. 

The practice of going south for mackerel has almost died out of late 
years, and this year there are but three or four vessels in the business. 
Some of the vessels who go in quest of bait, however, take mackereling 
apparatus with them, to use in case they should be so fortunate as to 
fall in with a school. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 20, 1859.) 

1859. — Growing importance of oill-net fishing at cape cod. 

Net mackereling seems to be a growing and important business. The 
absence of the bluefish in the bay seems to be hailed with inward satis- 
faction by the citizens of Proviucetown, and they confidently predict 
the return of the palmy days of profitable boat and net fishing, and the 
consequent thrift to their town If this piratical enemy of almost every 
other species of fish has taken his final departure from their waters. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, July 1, 1859.) 

1859. — Spring mackerel fishing. 

Schools of mackerel reported in Boston Bay June 5-10, 1859. Several 
vessels returned from the south with good fares. Fleet has been small, 
but those that have been engaged in this southern fishery did better 
than the average of seasons. Largest catch, 140 barrels of sm.all mack- 
erel, selling at $9 50. 



[269] history of the mx\ckb.rel fishery. 

1859. — Advantages op gill-netting. 

Habits of fish. — Mackerel fishermen once found fish inclined to take 
the hook, as hlneflsh, by trawling. Late years they take the hook as 
soon as it is thrown into the water, and a vessel needs but a few honrs 
for a full supply if they will " bite." Kow it would seem tliat the water 
may be full of them and not one of them can be taken by the hook. At 
the present, in Provincetown Harbor, none are taken by the hook, while 
the whole harbor is crowded full of them. The introduction of nets has 
been a great gain in the way of taking them, and it is predicted by some 
that mackerel will soon be taken upon this coast only by nets. How- 
ever this may be, it would seem that a change of mackerel would render 
it desirable that there should be the corresponding change in the mode 
of taking them. — (Barnstable Patriot, June 28, 1859.) 

Our Provincetown neighbors seem to have a special benefit this season. 
The harbor is crowded full of mackerel, and though they will not take 
the hook, they are abundantly meshed in the nets which are set for 
tbem. Some nights as many as two thousand fish have been taken in 
the nets of a single man. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 1, 1859.) 

1859. — Fitting away^ of the bay fleet. — a new feature in 
the mackerel fishery of tae gulf of saint lawrence. 

Most of our vessels are making preparations for the baj\ The pros- 
I)ects of a good season's work are very flattering, and the number of ves- 
sels this season will exceed that of last by a large number. 

Some of the mackerel fleet in the bay fishery will take dories this sea- 
son. This is a new feature, and will doubtless prove an advantageous 
one. Quite a large fleet of cod fishermen are now fitting for bay mack- 
ereling. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 20, 1859.) 

1859. — Reported abundance of mackerel in Massachusetts 

bay. — SUCCESS OF THE SOUTHERN FLEET. 

Large schools of fresh mackerel have been reported in Boston Bay 
the past week. Several of our mackerel catchers have returned from 
the south with good fares. The fleet at the south has been very small, 
but those that have been there do rather better than the average of 
seasons. The largest catch yet landed has been 140 barrels of small 
mackerel. It will be seen by our market quotations that they bring a 
good price. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 10, 1859.) 

1859. — Successful use of the purse-seine off cape ann. — 
schools of mackerel in gloucester harbor. 

Last week large quantities of mackerel were seined by vessels on the 
north side of the Cape. 

Our harbor has been visited by schools of mackerel the present week, 
but they do not take to the hook. — ((^ape Ann Advertiser, July 1, 1859.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [270] 

1859. — A SCHOOL OF MACKEREL IN GLOUCESTER HARBOR. — ARRIV- 
ALS FROM THE BAY.— PROSPECTS. 

A large school of mackerel iu the harbor yesterday, near Day Bar ; 
large and fat; several dories took good loads with hook and line; 
schooner "Jane," of Swampscott, seined a good number. 

Twelve vessels arrived from the bay with moderate fares the past 
week. They do not speak very encouragingly of the fleet, many of the 
vessels having done nothing, and others have succeeded in getting from 
50 to 100 barrels. Probably the whole fleet in the bay will not average 
50 barrels apiece. 

Our fishermen, however, are not discouraged, but rely on making bet- 
ter trips in the fall. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 19, 1859.) 

1859. — Mackerel fishing in the bay. — prices, etc. 

Within the last three days 12 vessels have arrived from the bay, aver- 
aging 140 barrels each. The fleet generally have not been very success- 
ful. Sales yesterday at 16, 13|^, and 8^ for I's, 2's, and 3's. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, August 19, 1859.) 

The prospect for a successful fishing season in the bay is quite en- 
couraging. * -* * If the second trii) to the bay should prove suc- 
cessful, the business of the year will wind up profitably, and our owners 
be prepared to commence winter fishing. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 
26, 1859.) 

1859. — The bay and shore fleets. 

There are about 240 sail of vessels yet to arrive from the bay ; a few 
have arrived ; report very rough weather ; no chance to fish for a month 
past, and the prospect for a fall catch rather discouraging ; a few ves- 
sels reported with good trips ; some have had bad luck (50 to 75 barrels), 
and will probably hold on till late in November. 

The shore fleet have done nothing the j)ast week, as the weather has 
been very cold and blustering. The prospect now is that unless mack- 
erel make their appearance off Chatham, the fall catch will be small in- 
deed. Some of the mackerel-catchers have gone into pollock-catching, 
meeting with good success. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 28, 1859.) 

1859. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

Early iu June, 1859, I left the brig "Houston," in which I had made 
a coasting trip, in Providence, R. I.; went on to Gloucester and shipped 
in the schooner "Arcturus" for a trip to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. 
This schooner was then on the stocks, but was launched in a few days, 
made ready for sea, and we started from the bay. The mackerel were 
of large size in the Gulf that year, but exceptionally scarce. On our 
first trip we cruised over nearly all of the fishing-grounds that are 
usually frequented at that season, and although our vessel was com- 
manded by one of the most expert skippers then sailing from Gloucester, 



[271] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

we obtained ouly 100 barrels of mackerel — considerably less than half 
a fare. We left the bay in August on our return home, and having 
packed out our fish and refitted, returned again for a fall trip. We 
succeeded in catching 150 sea-packed barrels that autumn, which was 
more than an average for the fleet. The price of mackerel was good, 
since, to the best of my recollection, we got $14.50 per barrel for our jSTo. 
1 fish. My own share for the season's work, from the 1st of June to 
IsTovember, amounted to $150. The mackerel were also scarce on our 
own shore so far as I can remember, and nearly all of the ]S"ew England 
fleet resorted to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Several vessels secured 
excellent fares of fine large mackerel in the summer of 1859 along the 
south shore of the Saint Lawrence between Cape Gaspe and Cape (^hatte, 
the best catches being obtained in the vicinity of the Magdalen Eiver 
and Mount Louis. Captain Peter Sinclair, in the schooner, "C. C. 
Davis," did excellently well, perhaps better than any others, briuging 
home a full fare of extra large mackerel, for which a high price was ob- 
tained. These fish were taken chiefly in boats which went out from the 
vessel and caught the mackerel close into the rocks and along the reefs 
maldng out from either side of the coves. In some instances when the 
mackerel played in to the coves, where the vessels lay at anchor, the 
fishing was carried from the decks of the schooners which were sprunfj 
up for the purpose. We had also cruised along this coast in July, but 
the mackerel not then having arrived on the shore in any numbers, our 
skipper fearing to remain longer, decided to return to the more fre- 
quented fishing-grounds in the lower part of the Gulf. An incident 
transpired, however, before leaving this section that may be worthy of 
mention here. Failing to find the mackerel inshore we one day stood 
off between Magdalen Eiver and Anticosti Island, where we caught 17 
barrels of fine large fish. It is altogether ]>robable that these mackerel 
were a part of the school that a short time thereafter were found close 
in to the shores. 

1859. — Prices for mackerel caught m 1858. 

Mackerel, no sales reported some small lots are held at $16.25 and 
$14.20, l^os. 1 and 2.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 13, 1859.) 

1859. — A GOOD TRIP FROM THE BAY. — BIG STOCK. — OTHER ARRIVALS. 

PRICES, ETC. 

Schooner " C. C. Davis " from the Bay Saint Lawrence, arrived yes- 
terday with 250 barrels of large mackerel. Advices from the fleet there 
are a little more favorable. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, ]Srovember4, 1<S59.) 

Schooner "C. C. Davis" made good trips — two trips to the bay, pack- 
ing 535 barrels, sold for $7,487.74, leaving over $0,400 net profit after 
deducting expenses. Add to this $5,600 made in fishiug, and we have 
the handsome net stock of over $12,000 in a single season. Who can 
beat this ? 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [272] 

About 100 sail of baymeu have arrived the past week, and our streets 
have liresented a lively appearance. Clothing dealers doing a good 
business. There are now some 50 or 60 sail to arrive. Some do poorly. 
One arrived with 20 barrels, another with only 8 barrels. The catch 
will fall greatly below last season. The shore fleet have mostly given 
up. Mackerel season is about over, and the fleet will soon haul up. 
Prices of mackerel : $14.50 and $14.75 for I's, $12.50 and $12.75 for 2's.— 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, November 18, 1859.) 

1859. — A LATE SCHOOL IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND AT CAPE COD. 

Mackerel again made their appearance in our waters last week, and 
the few vessels who were fortunate enough to be out succeeded in doing 
a pretty good business, some of them taking as high as 60 barrels. 
Some vessels which had been hauled up fitted out again, and will be 
ready to try them as soon as the weather is suitable. It is rather late 
in the season, however, to expect any great number of mackerel will be 
taken, but if there be any catch the Gloucester boys will be on hand to 
get their share of them. Mackerel quiet the past week. Prices $14.50 
for 1% $12.50 for 2's.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 25, 1859.) 

1859. — Mackerel market for 1859. 



Boston, January 4, 1860. — Mackerel have sustained very full prices 
throughout the year, and have been quite steady. In January last 
prices ranged from $15 to $16 for No. I's, $14 to $14.50 for Noo 2's, and 
$9.75 to $10 for No. 3's, and they were the current rates for the first 
four months of the year. In May prices advanced for No, I's and No. 
2's, and ruled at $16.75 to $17 tor No. I's, $15 to $15.50 for No. 2's, while 
No. 3's were sold at $9.50 to $9.75 a barrel. The first arrival of new 
No. 3's sold at $10.25 to $11, but prices soon declined to $8 and $9. 
The principal sales for some months past have been $14.50 to $15.50 for 
No. I's, $12 to $14 for No. 2's, and $9.50 to $10 for No. 3's, closing firm 
for all kinds. Mild weather prolonged the fishing season later than 
usual, but it is believed that the catch this year will fall short of the 
last. 

The highest and lowest prices for some years past have been as 
follows : 





No. 1. 


No. 2. 


No. 3. 


1859 


$14 00 to $17 00 
9 00 to 16 00 

8 00 to 14 00 

9 00 to 16 00 
13 00 to 18 00 


$11 50 to $15 50 
8 90 to 14 00 
7 00 to 13 00 
7 00 to 8 00 
7 00 to 10 00 


$8 00 to $11 00 


1858 


5 00 to 11 00 


1857 


6 50 to 9 00 


1856 


4 75 to 5 25 


1855 


3 50 to 5 00 







[273] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHEEY. 

18C0. — An early staet foe the bay. 

Two vessels, "Charger "and "Fleetwing," the first of the season, sailed 
from this port for Bay of Saint Lawrence Wednesday [May 23]. About 
20 sail will be ready next week, and in a few weeks the greater portion 
of the fleet will be ready. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 25, 1860.) 

I860. — The newburyport mackerel fleet. 

The ISTewbnryport Herald, April, 1860, states that the bay fleet has 
nearly abandoned the practice of going south for mackerel in the early 
spring. But two schooners are fitting out, the "Lola Montez" and the 
" Eleanor," and they are stimulated by the high price offered for 3's— $10 
a barrel. Labrador fleet has usually been successful. Would not pay 
for a single year, from great cost of outfits, but those who continue for 
several years, till nets and other outfits are used up, find it remunerative. 

I860. — A PROPOSED INNOVATION IN THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

There is talk of organizing a company for the purpose of fitting out a 
vessel to engage in the mackerel fishery of the North Sea. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, March 23, 18G0.) 

I860. — First arrival from the bai:.— reported small catch. — 

MACKEREL PLENTY' ON NEW ENGLAND COAST. 

Schooner " Light of Home" arrived from the bay with 70 barrels; been 
gone ten weeks. This is the first arrival of the season, and a little ear- 
lier than usual. Have reports for the following vessels: "St. Cloud," 
125 barrels; "Cyrena Ann," 125; "J. J. Burns," 120; "Anglo Saxon," 
100; "North Star," 100; "Flora Temple," 80; "Electric Flash," 90; 
"Oronoco," 25; "Shooting Star," 75; "Chas. McDonald," 75; "Saint 
Louis," 90. The fleet will probably average about 60 barrels. "Light 
of Home" will fit for another trip. 

Shore mackerel quite plenty to the eastward; one vessel from the 
Point has caught 90 barrels on the hook. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Au- 
gust 3, 1860.) 

1860. — Mackerel abundant off cape ann. — a good catch. 

Large quantity of mackerel taken off" Eockport on Saturday last. 
One seine obtained 225 barrels of pretty fair mackerel, while quite a 
number of barrels were caught by dory fishermen. Quite a streak of 
luck. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 13, 1860.) 

1860. — Abundance of mackerel off the maine coast. — scar- 
city IN THE BAY". 

The shore fleet have met with a streak of luck quite uni^recedented, 
mackerel of good size swarming the eastern shores of Maine, and take 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [274] 

the book very readily ; largest haul is 160 bbls. brought in by the " Electric 
Flash," all caught on the hook in about ten days. Glad of the luck, be- 
cause for many years they have done poorly. Bay fleet advices report 
mackerel scarce. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 10, 1860). 

1860. — Arrivals from the bay and shore fleets. 

Eighteen vessels arrived from the bay during the past week, bringing 
in 1,743 barrels to a vessel, averaging 97 barrels to each vessel ; 12 of 
shore fleet arrived with 1,305 barrels — 108 barrels to a vessel. From 
the bay 9,000 barrels less this year than last. Many have not paid their 
outfit bills. Shore fleet have done a little better, but not first rate. 

Quite a number of the Cape Cod mackerel fleet in the harbor yes- 
terday ; brisk trade retailing mackerel at 5 cts. lb. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, September 14, 1860). 

1860. — Arrival of some of the bay fleet. 

Since our last 12 vessels have arrived from the bay with an aggregate 
of 1,377 barrels of mackerel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 24, 1860.) 

1860. — G-OOD catch of a COHASSET hooker off the new ENG- 
LAND COAST. 

Schooner " Harriet Torrey," of Cohasset, caught 1,500 barrels of mack- 
erel in 1860. Wm. Berdick, of Cohasset, caught 137 barrels with his 
own hook, which will clear, above expenses, $548. Shore fleet have all 
done well. Bay fleet have done poorly. — (Contemporary record.) 

1860. — EeMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

In July, 1860, after returning home from a cod-fishing trip to Cape 
North I went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on a mackerel cruise, in 
the schooner " Ocean Traveller" of Gloucester. Leaving home about the 
1st of July, we passed through the Strait of Canso on the 5th, passed 
up along the north side of Prince Edward Island ; along the west shore, 
crossed Bank Orphan, fished around Bonaventure, and up by Cape 
Gaspe and Cape Eozier without finding mackerel enough to induce us 
to remain in any one place, though we tried frequently on our way. In 
the cove at Cape Eozier we anchored, with a number of other vessels, 
and succeeded in catching 21 barrels at a spring in three or four days, 
getting a few mackerel each morning and evening. Influenced by the 
success which had been met with by several ve^els the previous year 
along the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence we, as well as many 
others of the mackerel-catchers, went there fitted for inshore fishing, 
taking along with us four or five dories in addition to our yawl-boat 
which was carried at the stern. Leaving Cape Eozier, where the mack- 
erel had ceased taking the hook, we ran uj) around the coastto Magdalen 
Eiver, where we stopped and tried for mackerel. We continued to cruise 



[275] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

along the shore for about five weeks, going as far north as Mount Louis, 
but met with extremely poor success ; so much so, indeed, that after being 
in the bay nearly six weeks we had taken only 27 barrels of mackerel, includ- 
ing the 21 barrels caught at Cape Rozier, of which mention has been 
made above. At last, feeling fully convinced that mackerel would not 
strike in on the south shore of Saint Lawrence, and the advanced sea- 
son and state of the weather warning us of the risk of remaining any 
longer on that coast, we proceeded south and began fishing around the 
Magdalen Islands, where, in about three weeks, we succeeded in catch, 
ing enough mackerel to make us up a fare of 125 sea-packed barrels, 
which, for the time and place, was much better than an average. For 
the ISTo. 1 mackerel on this trip (a large percentage was J^o. I's) we ob- 
tained $18.50 per barrel. My own share for the trip was $124.25. After 
returning home and packing out our bay trip, we engaged in the mack- 
erel fishery off the ISTew England coast. The contrast this year between 
the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the New England coast was quite re- 
markable, since in the former the mackerel were almost all of large size 
and very scarce, as has been shown, while on our own coast mackerel were 
of medium size, averaging about 12 inches long, and very abundant. After 
returning from the bay we made two trips, taking altogether 275 sea- 
packed barrels of mackerel. For the first fare of 175 barrels we got 
$8.50 j)er barrel ; but for the last trip the price was lower. A large 
portion of the mackerel catchers were fishing off the New England coast 
during the summer and autumn, and it is perhaps safe to estimate that 
at one time a fleet numbering five or six hundred sail were engaged in 
fishing for mackerel in Barnstable Bay. The mackerel at one time dur- 
ing the fall were exceedingly abundant off* Truro and Wellfleet. This 
was very advantageous to the fishermen, since in this partially sheltered 
bay fishing could be carried on much longer than in other places, and, 
consequently, a great amount of mackerel were taken. But little was 
done, however, outside of Cape Cod along its eastern shore, from the 
Highland to Chatham, as has been the case in other years. The mack- 
erel which had remained for several weeks in Barnstable Bay, when 
once outside of Race Point and on their way south, moved so rapidly 
that but comparatively few were taken. 

I860. — Successful use of the purse seine off cape ann. 

A large quantity of mackerel were seined off Eockport on Saturday 
last. One seine obtained 225 barrels of pretty fair mackerel, while quite 
a number of barrels were caught by dory fishermen. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, July 13, 1860.) 

Small catch by the newbueyport fleet at the south. 

Southern fleet have all returned, and are now fast leaving for the Bay 
of Chaleur. Catch south small. "Sarah Jane" took 112 barrels of 
mackerel, and 50 of bait. Largest catch. — (Newburyport Herald, June 
28, 1860.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [276] 

Hook and line pisHiNa off the new England coast. 

The SHORE fleet. — The largest trip brought into this port is by the 
" Sunuj^side," 200 barrels^ after an absence of three weeks. Schooner 
" Ripple" arrived lately with 100 barrels in 10 days. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, August 24, I860.) 

1860. — Spring and gulf mackerel fishery. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of May 4, 1860, remarks: 
"A few vessels have started for the south to prosecute the mackerel 
fishery. The number will be less than any previous season, owing to 
the ill-success of this branch of the fisheries of late. A large number 
will leave for Bay Chaleur the latter part of May and early in June, as 
the George's fishery is not very profitable at present." 

I860. — The southern mackerel fleet. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of June 8, 1860, announces that six vessels 
had arrived since the last issue of the paper, the average being 100 
barrels, and the prospect very good. 

I860. — Spring and gulf mackerel fishery. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of June 15, 1860, states as follows : 

"The southern fleet have nearly all arrived home and are fitting away 

for the bay. Late arrivals report the mackerel as being very small, 

the large ones having struck off to other waters; evidently the mack- 

ereling season at the south is about over. Vessels did better than last 

year." 

1860. — Fishing on the coast of maine. 

Mackerel of good size are swarming the eastern shores of Maine, and 
take the hook very readily. The largest haul brought into this port is 
160 barrels, by schooner "Electric Flash," all caught on hook in about 
ten days. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 10, 1860.) 

18G0. — The fall mackerel fishery in cape cod bay. 

The Gloucester Telegrai:»h of December 19, 1860, quotes from a recent 
number of the Yarmouth Register to the effect that mackerel had never 
been more numerous in Cape Cod Bay than during the four preceding 
weeks. They would not bite, but were caught in great abundance in 
nets. One man took from his nets set in Provincetown Harbor 3,000 
mackerel, valued at 7 cents apiece. 

November 23, mackerel were very abundant off Billingsgate Point. 
The Yarmouth Register stated that they were being taken in Cape Cod 
Bay in the latter part of November in large numbers. 

On November 24 the Lieutenant's Island weir, at South Wellfleet, 



[277] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

captured 118 barrels at one tide. — (Gloucester Telegraph, Novem''ocr 28, 
1860.) 

Mackerel of medium size were this fall exceedingly abundant about 
Cape Aun and other points along the coast of Eastern New England. 

In October there was a large fleet of perhaps 300 sail in Barnstable 
Bay. The vessels had followed the mackerel from Portland to Cape 
Ann and across Massachusetts Bay. — (Cai)tain Collins.) 

I860. — Mackerel in the gulf of saint laweence. 

In 1860 mackerel were quite scarce in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 
though of large size. Nearly all of the vessels which went to these 
waters early in the season fished off the coast of New England in the 
fall. No. 1 bay mackerel were sold at $18.25 a barrel, and No. 2's, 
taken off' the New England shore, sold for from $7 to $8.50 per barrel. 

I860. — Spring mackerel fishery. 

Southern mackerel. — Six vessels have arrived from the south 
since our last issue with very good fares, averaging about 100 barrels 
to a vessel. They report the prospect good. * * * — (Barnstable 
Patriot, June 12, 1860.) 

1861. — Fall mackerel fishery at cape ann. 

Eive weir-loads were taken in a seine off Eockport, at one haul, 
August 28.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 30.) 

1861. — First mackerel taken. 

The first mackerel of the season was taken May 20. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, May 24, 1861.) 

1861. — Notes on southern fishery. — scarcity of mackerel. 

Eeports from Newport last week, says the Newburyport Herald, 
state that fish are very scarce, and that 60 barrels is the largest fare 
yet caught. Many of the vessels have caught but 20 barrels. They are 
determined to persevere, but it is evident unless they meet with an un- 
usual " streak of luck," the business will prove a losing one. A large 
fleet of Cape vessels were in Newport on Sunday week, with small fares 
on board. — ( Barnstable Patriot, June 11, 1861.) 

1861.— Spring mackerel fishery^ in cape cod bay. 

Mackerel. — The mackerel fishery in the vicinity of Barnstable Har- 
bor has been doing a good business for some days past. Several of the 
boats have taken 3,000 each, and yesterday a new school came inshore, 
increasing their prospects for a profitable spring business. — (Barnstable 
Patriot, May 28, 1861.) 



EEPOET OF COMMISIIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [278] 
1861. — SPKINGr MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

The MACKEEEL FLEET. — Sixty barrels, the largest trip caught yet. 
— (May 31, page 2, column 2, Cape Ann Weekly Advertiser, 1861.) 

1861. — TJnFAVOEABLE news FEOM the SOUTHEEN FLEET. — SAILING 
OF THE FIEST OF THE BAY FLEET. 

Schooner "Shooting Star" arrived from the south on Tuesday, with 60 
barrels mackerel; reports poor catch for most of the fleet; one or two 
have above 80 barrels. 

About a dozen of the fleet have sailed for the bay, and quite a num- 
ber are fitting away and will sail in a few days. Last year at this time 
there were many more vessels on their way to the bay than the present 
season. 

There is yet a large stock of last year's catch on the wharves. Last 
year the catch of the previous season was exhausted long before June. 
— (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 7, 1861.) 

1861. — A BIG SCHOOL OF MACKEEEL IN OLOUCESTEE HAEBOE. — 
GOOD CATCH OFF EOCKPOET. 

A large school of mackerel made their appearance in the harbor on 
Wednesday afternoon; some twenty boats were present, and there was 
quite a successful catch ; many of the mackerel were of good size. 

Fiv^e wherry-loads of mackerel were taken in a seine, oft" Eockport, at 
one haul, on Wednesday of last week. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 
30, I860.) 

1861 FlEST AEEIVAL FEOM THE BAY. 

Schooner "Arcturus " arrived from the bay on Tuesday, with 240 barrels 
mackerel, absent six weeks. This is the first arrival of the season from 
the bay, and is somewhat earlier than usual, as vessels rarely arrive be- 
fore August 1. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 19, 1861.) 

1861. — Quick bay teips. 

Schooner "Joseph Story " returned from the bay : gone but little over 
four weeks ; returning with a good fare. Schooner "Queen of the West," 
gone five weeks. These we believe are the shortest bay trips that were 
ever made from this port, the usual time of making a voyage being from 
ten to twelve weeks, and sometimes longer. Eight weeks is considered 
good time for a vessel in the bay fishing. 

The mackerel, which have been schooling off this shore the past 
month, have struck off to other waters, consequently our market has 
been without its usual share of fresh mackerel of late. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, August 23, 1861.) 



[279] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1801. — A FALL SCHOOL ON THE NOVA SCOTIA COAST. 

We are pleased to hear that large quautities of mackerel have made 
their appearance along our shore, and hundreds of barrels taken by 
our fishermen. — Halifax Express. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 
20, 1861.) ^ 

1861. — The shore fleet. — its success. — reported scarcity of 
mackerel in the bay. 

Three hundred sail of fishermen in the harbor last Saturday ; the fleet 
have done well of late, and report mackerel of good quality and quite 
plenty. Advices from the bay report mackerel scarce. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, October 1j, 1861.) 

The shore fleet did well last Saturday; some of the vessels got 90 
wash-barrels. Quite a number got 30 to 50 wash-barrels of large, fat 
mackerel. Some 20 sail from the bay have arrived during the week, 
and report hard luck. The mackerel season, take it all in all, has not 
proved very profitable this year. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 25, 
1861.) 

1861. — Close of the mackerel season. — advance in prices. 

The mackerel fishing business is closed for the season ; vessels are 
hauling up. The catch this season has been 25 i^er cent, below that of 
last year, and prices have ruled very low. Within a few weeks prices 
have advanced. 

No. 1 mackerel, which were worth only $7 per barrel October 25, at 
this date sold for $13. i^o. 2's, now selling for $9, brought only $5 in 
October. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 23, 1861.) 

1861. — EeMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

In the summer of 1861 medium-sized mackerel were very abundant 
off the New England coast, and some of the hookers obtained a catch 
of about 1,000 barrels or more, though the price was so extremely low, 
owing to the distracted condition of the country at the beginning of the 
war, that the fishermen obtained but little remuneration for their labor. 
Large mackerel were exceedingly rare, however, and as a consequence of 
much greater value than the smaller ones. In the Gulf of Saint Law- 
rence, also, mackerel were fairly plentiful, and there being a greater 
percentage of large fish, some of the vessels di<i much better, finan- 
cially, than those which fished off our own shore. This was especially 
the case with those which remained late in the bay, or made their home 
passages in a leisurely manner, since, during November, the prices ad- 
vanced very rapidly, so much so, indeed, that mackerel nearly doubled 
in value in the short space of two or three weeks. On the 16th day of 
August I left Eockport, for the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in the schooner 
"Sarah B. Harris." At first we fished about the Magdalen Islands 



• REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [280] 

and the north side of Prince Edward Island, and around its eastern 
point. Later in the fall we obtained some very good catches of mack- 
erel oft' Cape Saint George, where there was a large fleet collected. 
Other vessels, however, about the same time, took a considerable quan- 
tity of mackerel about Margaree Island and Cheticamp. We left Port 
Hood for home on the 1st day of Ii^ovember and met with very boister- 
ous weather, causing us to lay in harbor on the Kova Scotia shore for 
some days. Our passage was also further retarded by strong head- 
winds, while at sea, so that we did not arrive home until the 19th day 
of IS'ovember. In the mean time, while we had. been making our pas- 
sage, mackerel had risen from $7.50 to $12 per barrel, and by the time 
we were ready to sell we were able to get $13.50 for our best fish. My 
own share amounted to $100, which was a sum rarely obtained from one 
trip by any fisherman in 1861. 

1862. — Uncertainty of the mackerel fishery compared with 

that for cod. 

Some of the Georgians make shares of $30 to $50 per man. 

The mackerel fishery is quite uncertain, and if the fishermen make a 
poor season's work at mackerel, then George's Bank is made to dis- 
count, and from this source they draw the cash, in the shape of codfish 
and halibut. 

George's Bank furnishes them with the ready cash, promptly paid, 
and dollars would be scarce indeed among them, were it not for this 
source of revenue. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, March 7, 1862.) 

1862. — Southern mackerel fishery. — fittings away of the 

fleet. 

Quite a number of vessels are now being fitted out to prosecute the 
early mackerel fishery in southern waters. This branch of the fisheries 
has been prosecuted for several years past with but indifferent success, 
the vessels not making enough to pay for their outfit The vessels en- 
gaged in this business do not follow the George's fishing, but spend a 
month or six weeks in Southern waters, prior to going to tbe bay, in 
order to help make out a good season's work. The mackerel are gen- 
erally small and poor, and the prices realized are not very lucrative. — > 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, April 25, 1862.) 

1862.— Vessels an® men engaged in the Gloucester mackerel 

fisheries. 

About 350 sail of vessels engaged in the fishery, from this port, aver- 
aging twenty men to a vessel, making an aggregate of more than 4,000 
men that are required to man the fleet.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 

8, 1862.) 



[281] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1862. — Fleet fittings for the bay. — success of the southern 
mackerel fishery. — large fleet in gloucester. 

Quito a large fleet of vessels will be ready to start for the bay imme- 
diately after the 4th. 

The southern mackerel fleet have mostly returned from their first 
trips with average fares, and many have gone on a second trip, as 
mackerel are plenty. 

Shore mackereling will be prosecuted quite extensively this season. 
Large fleet of mackerelmen were in port on Wednesday, mostly south- 
shore vessels fishing on the shore. It is unusual to see a fleet of mack- 
erel catchers in our harbor at this time of year. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
June 27, 18G2.) 

1862. — The early bay fleet. 

Quite a number of vessels are fitting for an early trip to the bay ; 
will be ready to start June 1 ; no arrivals yet from the southern mack- 
erel fleet.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 23, 1862.) 

1862.— The mackerel fishery in the gulf of saint lavstrence. — 

favorable reports. 

Advices from thebay report vessels doing well. July 1 " Bridget Ann" 
had 150 barrels; " Cyrena Ann," 175 ; " Wide Awake," 130 ; "Electric 
Flash," 120 ; " Ocean Gem," 60. Weather unfavorable the past fortnight, 
and the mackerel taken thus far were rather poor. — (Cape Aun Adver- 
tiser, July 25, 1862.) 

1862. — First arrival from the bay. 

One fare of 200 barrels of mackerel has arrived from the bay. Sold 
at $4f and $3^ per barrel for large and medium 3's. The shore fleet 
have not done much of late. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 18, 1862.) 

1862.~-G00D fares from the bay. — PRICES AND QUALITY OF MACK- 
EREL BETTER THAN IN 1861. 

There has been quite a number of arrivals from the bay during the 
past fortnight, bringing in good fares. The quality of mackerel is said 
to be vastly superior to those of last season, and the prices are higher 
than last year. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 12, 1862.) 

1862. — Mackerel abundant in ipswich bay and at cape cod. — 

TEN arrivals FROM THE BAY. 

Shore mackereling good the past week. Ipswich Bay ha^ been swarm- 
ing with mackerel, and the mild, pleasant weather has been very favor- 
able. A large school of mackerel have made their appearance at Cape 
Cod. Previous to the present month the catch has been small. Bay 



REPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [282] 

trips arrive slowly, as most of the fleet will remain late in order to fill 
up with fat mackerel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 10, 1862.) 

Mackerel were quite plenty in the bay on Wednesdaj^, and the shore 
fleet did a good day's work, some of them catching as high as 70 vv^ash- 
barrels. The mackerel are quite large, and the best of them sell readily 
at $11 per barrel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 17.) 

The Newburyport Herald says: "The mackerel have been swarming 
in our bay for the last ten days ; 200 vessels and any number of small 
boats were fishing. Vessels take from 5 to 40 barrels apiece. On Tues- 
day the fleet numbered 4,000 vessels, and the fish were so plenty that 
the ' Live Yankee,' with only 4 hands, brought in 10 barrels." — (Barn- 
stable Patriot, October 14, 1862.) 

1862. — A BIG CATOH BY A HOOKER. 

Schooner "Nor' Wester" arrived from the Bay of Saint Lawarence yes- 
terday. The day before leaving she took 123 wash-barrels of mackerel, 
the value of which is $1,000. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 14, 1862.) 

1862. — EeMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

In the season of 1862 mackerel were quite plentiful in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence, where the larger part of the fleet were engaged iu this 
fishery. Off our own coast there was a school of mixed mackerel — much 
the greater portion being undersized — while among them were some 
very large fish. After making two trips' cod fishing to George's I took 
charge of the schooner " Hattie Lewis " and sailed for the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence on a mackerel trip early in June. We fished principallj^ on 
Bank Bradley, about the North Cape of Prince Edward Island, oft" 
Point Miscou and in the vicinity of Point Escuminac, taking a part of 
our fare, however, in the latter locality. On our first trip we caught 
208 sea-packed barrels, which were nearly all No. 3's, and started for 
home early in July. After landing our fish we went back oil a second 
trip to the Gulf 5 obtained a fare of 200 barrels and left the bay early 
in October. In the latter part of the fall we fished off Cape Ann and 
around Cape Cod. On one occasion we found mackerel quite plenty 
off Chatham and got 50 wash-barrels in one day ; though the majority 
of these were undersized fish there were a few among them remark- 
ably large 5 some specimens which I weighed, after they had been 
salted for a number of weeks, turned the scales at 2^ pounds. The 
following day we could find no fish in the same locality but struck 
mackerel in the afternoon about 25 miles in a southerly and easterly 
direction from Chatham, nearly down oft' the fishing-rip. These fish, 
which were moving quite rapidly in a southerly direction, were quite 
different from those caught the day before, since we did not find any 
large sized ones among them. On the third day the mackerel were 
gone, and although we ran to the southward 15 or 20 miles farther we 



[283] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

did not succeed in finding them. I have never, at any other time, with 
the experience of twenty-two years in the mackerel fishery, caught 
mackerel so far south in the fall as we did on this occasion. The exact 
date of this last catch I do not now remember, and can only say that it 
was some time about the middle of November. 

1863.— First mackerel in Massachusetts bay. 

The first mackerel were taken in the vicinity of Gloucester May 2G. 

1863. — Southern mackerel fishery. 

There will be but few vessels engaged in this branch of the fishery 
the present season, owing to the low price of poor mackerel and the 
great expense which attends fitting out vessels for this business. Salt 
which sold last year for $2 is now worth |4 per hogshead. Barrels have 
also advanced considerably; in fact, everything in shape of outfits for 
mackerel trips has nearly doubled in price. There is but one vessel 
fitting away at the i^resent time, and we are informed that not more 
than six vessels at most will prosecute the business this season. — (Barn- 
stable Patriot, June 9, 1863.) In May. 1863, the southern mackerel fleet 
was reported as doing a good business. The first vessels came into 
Gloucester June 1 ; average, 100 barrels each, which sold for $9 and |6. 

1863. — ISTewburyport mackerel fishery. 

The mackerel fleet have all arrived with good fares, which have all 
commanded good prices. We have had fewer vessels in the bay this 
season than for several years before ; we think only eleven. The busi- 
ness had been too poor, the wages and outfits were too high, and there 
was at one time great danger from Confederate pirates, but the busi- 
ness has been very prosperous to those engaged. Other places have also 
fewer vessels this season; the aggregate catch, therefore, notwithstand- 
ing the success that has attended them, will be small, and consequently 
the market is very active. The number of barrels packed here will not 
be far from 6,000. As we are constantly having new markets open for 
our fisheries, the prices will be likely to advance even upon the present 
high rates. The last sales were |28 for mess, $12.25 for I's, $10.25 for 
2's, $8 for large 3's, and $5.56 for small 3's. Captain Brown, of the " Sea 
Spray," considering the time engaged, made the best trip, stocking 
$6,260.— (Barnstable Patriot, November 17, 1863.) 

1863. — Dearth of experienced mackerel fisherinien. 

In 1863 there was a decided dearth of experienced fishermen at Glou- 
cester and other New England ports on account of the numerous enlist- 
ments in the Army. The three hundred vessels fitted out that year for 
the mackerel fishery in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence were obliged to fill 
up a large portion of their quota of 4,000 men from green hands. 



EEPOET or COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [284] 

1863. — Eeminiscences of capt. j. w. Collins. 

In the summer of 1863 mackerel were abundant in the gulf of Saint 
Lawrence and comparatively scarce on the Kew England coast. In July 
I started from Gloucester in the schooner " Sea- Witch " on a mackerel trip 
to the Gulf. We fished about Bank Bradley, North CajDC of Prince Ed- 
ward Island, and tlie Magdalens, securing a full fare of 250 barrels in 
four weeks. The last catch of the trip was made off to the eastward of 
Entry Island, Magdalens; we got more than 60 wash-barrels 5 not only 
enough to fill all the barrels we had on board, but also our yawl-boat 
and every other receptacle we could find which would hold the fish. 
Eeturning again to the Gulf on our second tri}3, we found good fishing 
off the Magdalens for a few days, when, the mackerel slacking off, we 
ran clown to Sydney, on the east side of Cape Breton Island, where the 
year previous some of the mackerel catchers had obtained good fares. 
There we also met with good success, as did the fleet of some 60 or 70 
vessels which were fishing in that locality. Again we obtained a full 
fare of 275 barrels in about four weeks' fishing. After returning home 
and packing out our mackerel we spent the remainder of the fall, some 
four or five weeks, in fishing off" Cape Ann and Cape Cod, but mackerel 
being scarce we succeeded in taking only about 30 barrels. The fleet 
off our own coast engaged in the mackerel fishery that fall compared 
with that in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence was small and unimportant. 

1864. — Haewichport mackerel fishery. 

Our mackerel catchers are beginning to report themselves. The fol- 
lowing schooners have arrived at Harwich Port : The " Diadem," Bob- 
bins, with 90 barrels; "D. Ellis," Baker, 110 barrels; " Prince Laboo," 
Nickerson, 175 barrels; "E. S. Hammond," Cahoon, 150 barrels; "S. 
Smith," Taylor, 110 barrels ; the "Electric Spark," Godfrey, 125 barrels. 
Others are expected soon, besides several George's fishermen, which are 
reported to have good fares. — (Barnstable Patriot, June 13, 1864.) 

1864.— Mackerel fishery. 

OiTR BAY FLEET. — About twenty-fivc of our bay fleet have arrived 
since our last issue, bringing full fares, and several fares have been sent 
home by vessels remaining in Bay Saint Lawrence. The prospects seem 
good for a fair season's catch. The market is active, mackerel being in 
demand at prices much in advance of those of any year within the 
memory of the oldest inhabitant. The exi3ense attending the prosecu- 
tion of this business is larger by one-half than in ordinary times, all 
kinds of vessel's gear and supplies of every description being held at 
enormous rates, and unless good prices for fish are sustained there will 
be but a small margin for profit. But with present prices and good luck 
in the way of a catch, we may set the season as a good one. — (Barnsta- 
ble Patriot, September 13, 1864.) 



[285] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1864. — Mackerel fishery in the gulf of maine. 

Macterel appeared on the coast in great abundance during the early* 
part of the autumn. The crew of the little fishing schooner '' Minnehaha," 
of Swampscott, on the 18th of September, off Boone Island, caught 350 
barrels, and the crew of the " Flying Dart," of the same place, at another 
point, took 130 barrels in some four hours. — (History of Lynn, Lewis 
& Newhall, p. 478.) 

1864. — Gulf of saint laweence mackerel fishery. 

From the bay. — Quite a number of baymen have arrived the present 
week, and a large portion of the fleet are on their way home. They 
report mackerel very scarce for the present month and but little doing. 
In view of these facts the market has been a little more active for the 
past week, and quite a number of transactions have been effected at $12 
and $15. Shore has also advanced in price, and the prospect now is 
that still better prices will be obtained the coming month. Mackerel 
are a staple, and there will doubtless be quite an active demand for them 
during the fall and winter months. Our fishing firms acted very wisely 
in not sacrificing their mackerel at panic prices, as we believe they will 
yet obtain a fair equivalent for them and be enabled to make a very 
good season's work. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October, 1864.) 

1864. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

Mackerel have rarely or never been more abundant in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence than tbey were in 1864, while on the New England coast 
but little was done in this fishery. I sailed for the bay for mackerel in 
the schooner "Sea- Witch" early in July, passing through Canso about 
the 10th of the montb. We fished over the same ground that we did on 
the first trip the previous year, obtaining a full fare of about 275 bar- 
rels short of four weeks. We were absent from home five weeks and 
three days. My own share, exclusive of captain's commission, was $175. 
We returned again to the bay, having secured another fare about the 
last of September, and learning that the prospect on our own coast was 
poor, we went to the Strait of Canso, where we shipped 200 barrels of 
our fish on board a freighter and seat them home, while we refitted and 
returned again to the bay. During the last of September and early part 
of October the weather was stormy and the mackerel did not appear to 
take the hook so well as they had previously. A few of the vessels, 
however, in the mean time, had found very good fishing off Cheticamp, 
but that locality being so dangerous in the fall, when heavy gales are 
liable to come on very suddenly, and losses had so frequently occurred 
in previous years, that the fishermen, as a rule, did not care to take the 
risk of venturing on that inhospitable shore. For about two weeks after 
refitting in Canso we did poorly, getting only 60 barrels mackerel, but 
immediately after we, together with 50 or 60 other vessels, struck a 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [286] 

heavy body of mackerel at Margaree, on the north shore of Cape Bre- 
ton Island. Our vessel was small, being 49 tons, new measurement, 
•but with a crew of ten men we caught 100 wash-barrels the first day at 
Margaree, while several of the larger schooners, carrying crews from 
sixteen to nineteen men, secured catches ranging all the way from 100 
to 150 wash-barrels. Strong winds and stormy weather prevented us 
from fishing for a couple of days after this, but in the two or three fine 
days which occurred during the week we succeeded in obtain^g more 
than enough mackerel to fill all the barrels we had on board. Our catch 
for the season, from July to October 20, amounted to about 775 sea- 
packed barrels. Some of the largest vessels of the fleet, which re- 
mained in the bay the entire season, landing their fish and refitting at 
Canso, were reported as catching 1,200 or 1,500 barrels. These vessels, 
however, began their season's work early in June. The great abun- 
dance of mackerel brought down the prices very much in the fall, so that 
'No. 1 fish, which brought more than $20 per barrel at midsummer, were 
sold for about $14 in November. 

In the chapter on "Financial profits of the mackerel hook-fishery," 
printed above, may be found an account of several large stocks made 
by vessels fishing in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 1864. 

1865. — First arrivals from the bay of saint Lawrence. 

There have been five arrivals from the Bay of Saint Lawrence the pres- 
ent week, all bringing good fares. The mackerel are mostly 3's and 
will meet with a ready sale, as the market is quite bare. The prospect 
for a successful season's catch is most encouraging. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, July 21, 1865.) 

1865. — Abundance of mackerel on the coast of maine. — big 

catches WITH A PURSE SEINE. 

The Portland Argus of Wednesday says that mackerel were never 
more plenty than at present. A vessel went out last Thursday and 
secured 110 barrels, returned to Portland, discharged, and was off again 
on Saturday. On the latter day she secured 120 barrels. They were 
caught by seining, and the top of the water is said to be literally cov- 
ered with fish. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 21, 1865.) 

1865. — Arrival of baymen. — prices. — the shore fleet. 

The baymen have arrived pretty freely the past week, with good 
fares. The mackerel are mostly poor, and do not bring very remunera- 
tive prices. Last season the first trips were sold at $13 and $11 for the 
large and medium 3's; this year they have been sold for $8.50 and $6.50. 
Most of the vessels will return home to refit instead of landing their 
mackerel at the bay, as was the case last year — a project which resulted 
very unfavorably to those engaged in the business, as the expense of 



[287] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

freighting the mackerel home and the bad condition in which most of 
them were in on their arrival here materially lessened the profits of 
the voyage. Fat mackerel have not yet made their appearance in the 
bay. The shore fleet are doing moderately well, and the mackerel are- 
of mucli better quality than those brought from the bay.— (Ca})e Ann 
Advertiser, August 4, 1865.) Twenty-four hundred and three barrels 
of mackerel have arrived here from the bay this week, having been 
freighted home. They have found a ready market. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, September 29^ 1865.) 

The bay fleet have come home along quite freely the present week, 
some hundred sail having arrived in i^ort, and the balance are now ou 
their way home. Although the weather of late has been such that .but 
few mackerel have been caught, yet the fleet, on the whole, will make 
very good trips, and the season wind up prosperously for those engaged 
in the business. Mackerel are now selling at very fair prices (No. 1 at 
$16.50, No. 2, $13.50), and the prospect is that they will advance rather 
than decline. The shore fleet have not done much of late, bnt they may 
have a streak of luck yet if the weather continues favorable. — (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, November 3, 1865.) 

The baymen have all arrived home, the last of the fleet arriving yes- 
terday. Last year at this time there were 35 sail in the bay, the last 
vessel arriving as late as the 12th of December. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, November 17, 1865.) 

1865. — Abundance of mackerel in ipswich bay. 

A large school of extra fat mackerel have made their appearance in 
Ipswich Bay, and the fishermen are paying their respects to them in a 
most complimentary manner. They are real "bloaters," and fetch the 
highest price. The weather is all that can be desired, and the fisher- 
men will take every advantage which the season offers. The shore fleet 
are doing better and the mackerel are working up this way. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, October 6, 1865.) 

1865. — Eeminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

The year of 1865 was another remarkable season in the mackerel 
fishery of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and in this respect it almost 
rivaled the previous year. About the middle of June I sailed for the 
bay in the schooner "Mary Ellen," hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, 
but owned in the eastern part of the province. We caught three 
fares of mackerel during the summer, making a total of above 900 
barrels. The fish during the early part of the year were, as usual, 
found most plentiful about the North Cape of Prince Edward Island, 
along the west shore and on Bank Bradley. I recall one occasion, while 
lying becalmed between North Cape and Point Escuminac, of seeing a 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [288] 

remarkable display of schooling mackerel. As far as the eye could ex- 
tend from aloft, in every direction not bounded by the land, large 
bodies of mackerel could be seen at the surface of the water like dark- 
ened spots on a disk of silver. The previous year I had witnessed such 
a display on the north side of the eastern point of Prince Edward Island, 
when, for at least a distance of 20 miles up and down the island, and, 
perhaps, even farther, mackerel could be seen schooling in great bodies 
at the surface of the water 5 their frequent rushing sounding like the 
noise made by heavy showers striking on the water. For a greater 
part of the month of August and until the middle of September, in 1865, 
the weather was extremely rough in the bay, and the mackerel catchers 
were, in consequence, prevented from fishing a considerable portion of 
the time, the catch during this period being slight compared with other 
portions of the season. During the fall an immense school of biting 
mackerel were found on the north side of Prince Edward Island along 
its entire extent, but more especially in the vicinity of Malpec, where 
had gathered a fleet of perhaps 300 or 400 sail of vessels. Indeed, so 
abundant were the mackerel off Malpec in October, and so eagerly did 
they take the hook, that some of the schooners secured almost a full 
fare in a few days' fishing. The only trouble was to be able to catch 
and cure the fish fast enough, and at the same time secure an oppor- 
tunity of stowing them below, ilearly every vessel in the fleet could 
be seen with their decks filled with barrels of fish, which wer^ stowed 
in every available place. Great risks, too, were taken by the fishermen 
in remaining on the fishing-grounds at night, since at that season a 
heavy gale was liable to spring up at any time, and shoukl they have 
been caught on a lee shore in their lurabered-up condition there is no 
doubt but what the result would have been extremely disastrous. As 
it was, however, no losses were met with in this case. The last impor- 
tant catches of the season were obtained between the eastern point of 
Prince Edward Island and the Cape Breton shore, at which time the 
fish were moving very rapidly to the southward. There can be no doubt 
but that this school of mackerel could have been followed much fiirther 
had the weather not obliged the fishermen to seek shelter. 

In the paragraj)h on the financial profits of the hook-fishery is an ac- 
count of the " Kit Karson" bringing home to Gloucester 591 barrels of 
mackerel on her first trip, which she made in about ten weeks. Her 
net stock amounted to $6,512. 

1866. — Reported abundance of mackerel on the new England 

COAST. 

Mackerel are reported to be quite plenty. A large fleet of vessels are 
engaged in taking them. Quite a number of them have been taken in 
nets by the fishermen in some of the lower Cape towns. — (Barnstable 
Patriot, June 12, 1866.) 



[289] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1866. — The outlook for the bay of saint lawrbncb fishery. 

The mackerel fishery in the Bay of Saint Lawrence will be quite ex- 
tensively prosecuted the cominji^ season^ notwithstanding the rejieal of 
the reciprocity treaty. From 30 to 40 sail of vessels will be added to 
the fleet, and although the business will be attended with considerable 
risk, yet our fishermen are not scared at trifles ; they will keep a sharp 
lookout for English cruisers and get good trips in spite of them. A few 
overventuresome ones may get seized, but we believe the most of the 
fleet will come out all right; strict vigilance will be required, and we 
think our fishermen will not be caught napping. The mackerel, in the 
first part of the season, are mostly caught outside of the prescribed 
limits ; but it is in the fall of the year, when the fish play in round shore, 
that most of the difficulty is apprehended. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
April 13, 1866.) 

1866. — The spring fishery. 

Quite a large fleet of vessels from this port are now engaged in the 
menhaden and early shore mackerel fishing, and are meeting with fair 
success. The early bay mackerel fishery will be quite extensively pros- 
ecuted, and the fleet will sail earlier than last season. Several vessels 
are now fitting away and will leave the latter part of this month. No 
serious trouble is apprehended from the provincials. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, May 18, 1866.) 

1866. — First start of the bay fleet. 

The first of the bay fleet sailed on Tuesday and others will soon follow. 
It is about three weeks earlier than they started last season. — (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, May 25, 1866.) 

Considerable activity now prevails at our wharves in fitting out ves- 
sels for the bay. Having finished their George's fishing they are now 
discharging their ballast and having a general overhauling and painting 
up, which usually occupies about a fortnight. With the new vessels 
added to the fleet the present season we shall have about 400 sail in the 
business (from Gloucester) — the largest number that ever sailed from 
here. A few of the vessels have already left, and by the last of this 
month we shall have quite a large fleet in the bay. Some of the vessels 
will probably make three trips if they are fortunate enough to find mack- 
erel plenty and are not molested by English cruisers. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, June 8, 1866.) 

1866. — The southern fleet. 

A mackerel fleet of a hundred vessels, with a thousand men, rendez- 
voused in the harbor of Newport, E. I., last Friday. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, June 1, 1866.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [200] 

The fleet of southern mackerel catchers have mostly arrived home 
with moderate fares. The highest trip we have heard of is 175 barrels, 
but the fleet will not average more than 150 barrels to a vessel. Good 
prices are obtained and they will make a fair business of it. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, June 15, 1806.) 

The southern mackerel fleet have mostly arrived home with light 
fares; sales of large and medium 3's at 112.50 and $11.50. 

1866.— Scarcity op mackerel in the bay early in the season. 

Eeceut advices from the bay state that mackerel are very scarce and 
the fleet have done nothing as yet. Last year the mackerel made their 
appearance there quite early, and the first vessels arrived home about 
the 1st of July with good fires. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 29, 1866.) 

1866. — American vessels permitted to fish in Canadian wa- 
ters ON purchase of a license. 

The honorable Sir Frederick W. A. Bruce, the British minister, ac- 
credited to this government, by an official note of the 24th instant, 
announces that the Governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 
have agreed that the possession of a license issued by Canada to fish 
shall entitle the holder, during the season of 1866, to fish in the waters 
of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as well as in those of Canada ; 
the holder of a license from the Government of Nova Scotia or New 
Brunswick, if any such shall be issued, being entitled to fish in Cana- 
dian waters as well as New Brunswick. 

The notification is supplemental to one issued early in June, by P. 
Foster, esq., commanding the Canadian Government schooner "LaCan- 
adienne," employed in protecting the fisheries, who was authorized to 
issue fishing licenses on the payment of 50 cents per ton measurement 
of the vessel to which they were granted, to remain in force during the 
season, and conferring the same rights, so far as Canadian fisheries were 
concerned, as were conferred by the reciprocity treaty to the United 
States fishermen. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 29, 1866.) 

1866.— Unusual scarcity of mackerel in the bay, prices, etc. 

The bay men have about all sailed, and our warves and railways now 
present a ^ery quiet appearance. It is full time that some of the early 
fleet were at home, but as mackerel have been unusually scarce the pres- 
ent season there will probably be few arrivals before August, when busi- 
ness about the wharves will be more lively. Last year most of the fleet 
arrived home in July with good fares, and many of the vessels made 
three trips, but the prospect now is that the first fares will be light 
and prices rule much higher than last season. The shore fleet pick up 
a few mackerel, and they are readily disposed of at very remunerative 
prices, which are steadily advancing, showing in very light receipts. 



[291] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

We quote N'os. 1, 2, aud 3, at $18, $16, and $13.— (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, July 20, 1866.) 

1866.— First arrival from the bay. 

Schooner " Wingaersheek " arrived at Annisquam on Friday last (July 
20) from the bay with 313 barrels of mackerel. This is the first ar- 
rival of the season, and the mackerel were in good demand. The 2's 
were sold for $16 and 3's for $13. This is quite an advance over the 
price obtained for the early trips last year, when they were sold for $11.62 
and $8,50. Other vessels are daily expected to arrive, and as mackerel 
are scarce the triY)S will be in good demand and bring very remuner- 
ative prices. — (Oax)e Ann Advertiser, July 27, 1866 ) 

1866. — The bay mackerel fishery. 

Since our last issue 14 vessels have arrived from the bay, averaging 
about 200 barrels apiece. They report seeing plenty of mackerel, but 
they were rather backward about biting. Most of the vessels that have 
been spoken have from 150 to 200 barrels, and the prospect for the fall 
catch is considered very good. Out of nearly 400 sail of vessels in the 
business, but 20 have as yet arrived home, and during the coming three 
weeks there will undoubtedly quite a large number arrive to fit away 
for their fall trips. Some of the fleet, in order not to lose any time, 
will ship their mackerel home by the steamers and refit from there. 
Prices have slightly declined the present week, but there are so few 
mackerel in the market that they will have a tendency to advance 
rather than decrease in price. Shore mackerel continue scarce, and are 
in good demand. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 10, 1866.) 

1866. — A BIG HAUL IN A PURSE-SEINE. 

Schooner "Oconee," engaged in shore mackereling, arrived at this port 
on Monday with 240 barrels of mackerel, which she obtained in three 
seiniugs. At the third haul it was estimated that there were 500 barrels 
in the seine, and the pressure was so great that it burst while drawing 
it up, aud a large portion of the mackerel escaped. They succeeded, 
however, in saving about 140 barrels, all large and fat. The "Oconee" 
was absent but ten days, and will make a very handsome stock.— (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, August 17, 1866.) 

1866. — Comparative scarcity of mackerel. 

Twenty-one vessels have arrived from the bay since our last issue, 
making a total of 79 that' have thus far arrived home, leaving about 
three-quarters of the fleet tbat will make but one trip. There is quite 
a marked difference in the appearance of our wharves at the present 
time compared with last season. Here and there a vessel may be seen 
discharging her mackerel, but most of the wharves have decidedly a 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [292] 

deserted appearance. Last year at this time about all of tlie baymen 
had arrived from their first trips, and the cnllers, coopers, and packers 
were up to their eyes in business. Should the vessels succeed in getting 
good trips this fall, they will make a fair season's work if mackerel con- 
tiuue at present prices j but the aggregate catch will fall far short of 
last year's, and the business prove far less lucrative. The shore fleet 
have met with rather poor success the past fortnight, and but few mack- 
erel have been landed. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 31, 1866.) 

1866. — Mackeeel in Gloucester harbor. 

Mackerel have been quite XDlenty in our harbor the present week, and 
the small boats have done a very good business in catching them. Some 
of them were very large and fat. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 7, 
1866.) 

1866. — Decided advance in prices. 

The market continues firm and prices are greatly advanced on those 
of last season. Ko. 1 are $6 higher ; No. 2 show an increase of $5 and 
No. 3, $3.75. 

About 2,000 barrels (bay) in the market. Last sales at $22.50, $17.50, 
and $13.25 for ISTos. 1, 2, and 3. Shore in light receipt; sales of No. 1 
at $22.75.— {Ibid.) 

1866. — The mackerel fishery. 

There have been 42 arrivals from the bay since our last issue, the ves- 
sels averaging about 200 barrels apiece. About one-third of the fleet 
have now arrived home from their first trips, and as the season has now 
become so far advanced there will probably be but few, if any, more 
arrivals for the present, as it will be too late to return for a second trip. 
Mackerel have slightly declined the past week, owing to the late arriv- 
als, but the probability is the pricjes will again advance, as the stock 
on hand will not begin to supply the demand constantly being made on 
our market. Some of the shore fleet have done pretty well of late, but 
the seiners have not met with ver\^ good luck. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
September 14, 1866.) 

1866. — Kough weather in the bay. — the fleet expected home. 

There have been seven arrivals from the bay the past week, one at 
Auuisquam from her second trip, and six at this port from their first 
trips. They report very rough weather in the bay the past month, and 
there is scarcely one day out of a week that is suitable for fishing. The 
vessels that have arrived home during the pa&t fortnight will not return 
for a second trip, but will make up their season's work on this shore. 
The shore mackerel fleet have not done much lately, but there is yet 
opportunity of doing something next month should the mackerel con- 
tinue on the CQast. * * * 



[293] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY, 

It will be busy times on our wharves next month, as there are upwards 
of 300 sail of baymen that will probably arrive home during October, 
and the work of culling, packing, coopering, &c., will call for quite a 
large force of men. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 28, 1866.) 

1866, — The shore mackerel fleet. 

The shore fleet of mackerel catchers, numbering about 400 sail, have 
been off the Cape the present week, the mackerel having struck this way. 
On Saturday last there was pretty good fishing in Ipswich Bay, and some 
of the vessels did well. There does not appear to be a large body of 
mackerel off shore, but they cruise in single schools, which is not so 
favorable for a big catch. On Tuesday afternoon about J-00 sail came 
into our harbor and remained over night, leaving at daylight on Wed- 
nesday morning. They report mackerel rather shy, but consider the 
prospect good. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 5, 1866.) 

1866. — Success of the shore fleet. 

The shore mackereling fleet found very good fishing on Saturday, Sun- 
day, and Monday, in Ipswich Bay, some of the vessels catching as higli 
as 40 and 50 wash-barrels of large fat mackerel. Monday night it com- 
menced blowing heavily, and the larger portion of the fleet came into 
our harbor, where they remained through Tuesday. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, October 12, 1866.) 

1866. — SUNDAY keepers. 

About 100 sail of the mackerel fleet, designated as " Sabbath-keepers," 
lay at anchor on Sunday evening on the verge of the outer harbor, 
stretching across from Norman's Woe to the Point. At early dawn they 
made sail and joined the remainder of the fleet off Eockport. — [Ibid.) 

1866. — High line of the fleet. 

The schooner " Waterfall," of Southport, Me., claims the flag for being 
" high line" of the fishing fleet this season. Her fare since the 10th of 
June last is 810 barrels of mackerel, about two-thirds of which are Ko. 
I's. Whether or not any of the Cape Ann vessels Avill exceed this remains 
to be proved. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 12, 1866.) 

A paragraph is going the rounds of the papers stating that schooner 
"Lucy J. Warren," of Deer Isle, Me., is "high line" of the bay fleet this 
season, having landed 846 barrels of mackerel since June 17. 

We happen to ffnow of two vessels belonging to this port that have 
done much better than that, viz, schooner "Electric Flash" has landed 
923 barrels of mackerel m two trips to the bay, and the "Wildfire" has 
landed 875 barrels. The " Electric Flash " consequently has the honor of 
being " high line " of the bay fleet the present season. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, November 2, 1866.) 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [294] 
1866. — ARRIVAL HOME OF THE BAYMEN. 

The bay men have come in qnite freely the past week, 93 sail having 
arrived since our last issue. The vessels that have been absent all the 
season bring in pretty good fares, but the second trips are rather slim, 
some vessels bringing in as low as twenty-five barrels. We should judge 
the aggregate catch would prove full one-third less than last season,- 
but the increase in price will probably make up the deficiency in catch, 
so that the trips will average about as well as last year. There are now 
about sixty vessels to arrive, which will close up the business for the 
season. Prices continue firm at $18 and $16, and the market is quite 
active. 

The prospect now is that the supply fox fall and winter consumption 
will prove far less than the demand, aud that prices will advance rather 
than decline. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 2, 1866.) 

1866. — Eeminiscences of gapt. j. w. collins. 

In the spring of 1866 I engaged in the southern mackerel fishery, in 
1 he schooner "Lizzie F. Choate," starting on our trip early iu May. We 
fished principally about the south side of Long Island, from Sandy Hook 
to Montauk, and in the vicinity of Block Island and Noman's Land. 
Mackerel that spring were not inclined to take the hook very readily, 
and therefore we obtained only a small fare of about 45 or 50 barrels. 
We were absent from Gloucester about four weeks, part of which time 
was occupied in obtaining a supply of menhaden at Seaconnet Eiver, to 
be used for mackerel bait in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during the 
summer. 

After returning from the south we went to the bay, where we arrived 
about the middle of June. On our first trip we fished almost exclu- 
sively between Bonaventure and Prince Edward Island— that is to say, 
OD Bank Orphan and Bank Bradley; off ISTorth Cape of Prince Edward 
Island; along the west shore, from Point Escuminac to Point Miscou, 
and to a limited degree in the Bay of Cahleur. We succeeded in catch- 
ing 275 barrels of mackerel, arriving home about the beginning of 
September. We reached the bay on our second trip on the 13th day of 
September, proceeding immediately to the Magdalen Islands, where 
in five days we caught 115 barrels of tine fat mackerel. After that the 
fish discontinued biting in the vicinity of the Magdalens, and we ran 
across to the north side of Prince Edward Island, aboat North Cape 
and in the vicinity of Malpec, where mackerel were found quite abun- 
dant, and where a fleet of about 3U0 sail had collected. Here we did 
quite well, so that when we had been in the bay eighteen days we had 
between 250 and 300 barrels of mackerel. At this time we were oft" 
Mali)ec, and a strong blow from the southwest having come on, we went 
in there with the fleet (which numbered about 250 or 300 sail) for the 
purpose of filling water, which we stood much in need of, expecting, 



[295] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

as a matter of course, that we would be able to return to the fisMng- 
grouud in one or two daj'S at the farthest. The wiud came out to the 
northeast on the following day, and continued in an easterly direction 
almost nuiuterrupted for nearly two weeks. All of the vessels, includ- 
ing our own, were kept in harbor almost as if we had been in i^rison. 
During the time, however, the fleet managed to get out for a few hours 
on one or two occasions, but an easterlj^ wind springing up before the 
vessels had an opportunity^ of getting- an ofling compelled them to run 
back again in the harbor, since it would have been extremely hazard- 
ous, to say the least, at this season of the year, to have remained out 
during the night on a lee shore so notoriously dangerous as that on the 
north side of Prince Edw^ard Island. Though the easterly winds were 
not so extremely heavy, their long continuance made a heavy swell, 
which broke with great violence across the bar at the entrance to Mal- 
pec Harbor, and rendered any attempt to get out exceedingly risky. On 
one occasion a vessel which started to pass the bar with a light breeze 
was carried into such shoal water by the current and undertow that she 
grounded on the sand, and was only saved from destruction by the 
eftbrts of her own and the crews of various other vessels. 

While this large fleet was thus kept in harbor, a smaller number of 
vessels, some 30 or 40, which were around the north cape of the island, 
succeeded in obtaining a. very large catch of mackerel, nearly every one 
of these vessels getting a full fare in two weeks. By the time the 
larger fleet was able to leave Malpec the schools of mackerel in that 
vicinity and about North Cape had evidently departed, and the vessels 
scattered in different directions, according to the judgment of the sev- 
eral skippers, some of them going to the Magdalens and the others in 
the direction of the east point of Prince Edward Island and the north 
shore of Cape Breton. However, by this time it was late in the season, 
and the weather had become so boisterous that fishing could be carried 
on only on occasional days. A few good catches of mackerel were ob- 
tained about the Magdalen Islands after this, which x)ractically finished 
the season's work. On the whole, we secured a fare of 315 barrels, and 
left the bay about the 20th of October. The mackerel caught in 1866 
were of large size and of good quality, but were far less abundant than 
during the previous year. 

1867. — The spring mackerel fishery. 

The southern mackerel fishery is being prosecuted by the usual num- 
ber of vessels, and late advices represent the prospect as good. Some 
of the fleet are landing their mackerel fresh, and obtain very good prices. 
Mackerel are also reported xerj plenty off Cape Cod, and some pretty big- 
hauls have recently been made by the Provincetown seiners. The pros- 
pect for the shore mackereling fleet is certainly most encouraging. 

The bay mackerel fishery will be quite extensively prosecuted the 
present season, but the vessels will not engage in it so early as they did 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [286] 

last year. But few, if any, of the fleet will sail before the middle of 
June. 

There will probably be some 400 sail of vessels employed in the 
business from this port. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 24, 1867.) 

186 i". — Alaege bay fleet. 

Considerable activity now prevails at our wharves and railways, as 
the early mackerel fleet are getting readj'^ to start, and in about a fort- 
night quite a number of vessels will be on their way to the Bay of Saint 
Lawrence. * * * 

We shall have the largest fleet of vessels engaged in tbe bay fishery 
this season that has ever prosecuted it, and most of them will make two 
trips. The shore mackerel fishery will also be extensively prosecuted. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, June 7, 1867.) 

1867. — Unusual success of the southern fleet. 

The southern mackerel fishery has proved very successful this season. 
The fleet have arrived home with good fares, averaging about 200 bar- 
rels each. Most of the vessels are now absent on their second trip, and 
the prospect is said to be very encouraging. It is seldom that the fleet 
make but one trij) out south, but this year mackerel are sufiiciently 
plently in those waters to warrant the undertaking. We learn that one 
vessel has arrived at Newburyport with a second fare, having landed 
upwards of 500 barrels on both trix)S. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 
14, 1867.) 

1867. — The bay fleet. — scarcity of mackerel. 

Some 50 sail of vessels have left for the bay this week and others 
will speedily follow. In the course of a fortnight there will be from 
two to three hundred sail of vessels in the business. 

Advices from the early bay fleet represent mackerel rather scarce, 
and the prospect not very encouraging. The highest trip reported was 
50 barrels. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 12, 1867.) 

1867. — A GOOD SCHOOL ON GEORGE'S. 

Mackerel have been quite plenty on George's lately, and those of the 
fleet who were lucky enough to be there did well. About a dozen ves- 
sels have arrived, averaging about 200 barrels each, which were quickly 
disposed of at remunerative i^rices. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 2, 

1867.) 

1867. — American mackerel schooners fishing in the gulf of 
saint lawrence required to pay license to the canadian 
government. 

In 1867, after the expiration of the "reciprocity treaty," the Canadian 
Government imposed a tax of 50 cents per ton on all American vessels 



[297] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

for tlie privilege of participatiug in tlie inshore fisheries of the Domin- 
ion. For this sum a license was granted which, for the purpose above 
specified, continued good for the year. Afterwards this tax was in- 
creased to $2 per ton. 

Capt. Fitz J. Babson, collector of customs of Gloucester, Mass., 
writes : " This tax was considered as an onerous burden by American 
fishermen, but was submitted to, more in order to prevent capture and 
confiscation than for the fishing privileges accorded ; upon the increase 
of this tax American vessels generally refused to pay it, preferring 
rather the risk of annoyance and cai^ture." 

1867. — First arrival from the bay.— reported scarcity of 

mackerel. 

Schooner "Addie M. Story" arrived from the Bay of Saint Lawrence 
on Tuesday, with 250 barrels of mackerel, having been absent about 
eight weeks. This is the first arrival of the season. Captain Eowe 
reports mackerel scarce and the fleet not doing much. The prospect 
now is that most of the vessels will make but one trip. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, August 9, 1867.) 

1867. — Arrivals from the bay. 

Seventeen vessels have arrived from the bay since our last issue, 
making twenty in all this season — less than one-half the number that 
had arrived last year u^) to this time. About 3,500 barrels have thus 
far been landed, which is exceedingly slim doings. The fleet come 
along very slowly, and the prospect now is that a large proportion of 
them will make but one trip. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 23, 1867.) 

Fifty-three vessels have arrived from the bay during the past week, 
leaving about twenty sail to come. About 12,000 barrels of mackerel 
have been brought in by the above fleet, averaging 230 barrels to a ves- 
sel, most of which have been in the bay all the season, making but one 
trip. The market is rather quiet the present week and buyers are 
not disposed to purchase very freely. Holders are firm at $15 for No. 
I's, although a few lots caught early in the season have been sold at 
$14. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 8, 3867.) 

Forty vessels have arrived from the bay since our last issue, bringing 
about 8,000 barrels of mackerel. — (Ibid.) 

Thirty-eight vessels, with a total of 7,000 barrels of mackerel, had 
arrived from the Bay of Saint Lawrence during the month of August. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, August 30, 1867.) 

1867.— Good mackerel fares from George's. 

Schooner '^B. K. Hough" arrived from George's last Friday and the 
"Kearsarge" on Monday, with full trips of mackerel. These vessels 
have made two trips to George's the present season, landing in the ag- 
gregate 1,180 barrels of mackerel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 
6, 1867.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [298] 

1867. — Small catch of mackerel by the bay and shore fleets. 

Mackerel still continue very scarce, and the receipts of both shore and 
bay are very light. The eastern fleet are doing but little, and the i)ros- 
pect of a successful fall catch is anything but encouraging. About 
2,200 barrels have arrived from the baj^the past week, which have been 
quickly taken at advanced prices. We quote sales of Ko. I's at $21,50 
to$2L; No. 2's, 113.50 to $13.25, Shore very scarce with slight ad- 
A^ance. Least sales of No. I's at $18.50 ; No. 2, $13,25, The mackerel 
catch this season will probably be fully one-third less than that of last. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, September 27, 1867.) 

BOYS IN THE MACKEREL FISHING, 

James S, McDonald, about fourteen years of age, has caught the 
X)resent season 36 barrels of mackerel, and James Babson, fifteen years 
of age, 40 barrels. — (Ibid.) 

1867, — High line of the mackerel fleet. 

The Newburyport Herald states that the schooner " Tanny " takes the 
palm for this season among the mackerel fleet, having lauded 910 bar- 
rels, which stocked $13,000,— (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 15, 

1867.) 

1867. — Review of the mackerel fisheries. 

The shore mackerel and seining business has been largely engaged in, 
but has x>roved far less remunerative than last j-ear. The southern 
fleet did remarkably well ; but the shore fleet has not done as poorly 
for many years, 

Tlie bay mackerel fishing has proved rather unprofitable the present 
season. Less than one-third of the fleet have made two trips, and the 
catch will fall far short of last year. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 
22, 1867.) 

1867. — EeMINISCENCES by CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

Toward the latter part of May, in 1867, I started on a mackerel trip 
to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in the '^Lizzie F. Choate." We arrived 
in the bay about the 1st of June ; but, notwithstanding we cruised over 
all the fishing-grounds usually resorted to at this season, we failed to 
catch any mackerel until about the middle of the month, and none were 
taken by other vessels, so far as we could learn, any earlier. Mackerel 
that year were all large size, as during the two i)revious seasons, but 
were apparentlj' not so plentiful as the year before. We fished on the 
ground usually resorted to in the early summer, but obtained the best 
catches in the deep water between Bank Orphan and Bank Bradley, 
where, on one occasion, we took, in a single day, 50 or 60 barrels of 



[299] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

miickeiel. Having obtained a fare of 300 barrels about the middle of 
August, we returned Lome, arriving in Gloucester on tbe 2(3tli. We 
packed out our fish and again went back to the bay on a second trij). 
After arriving in the bay the second time we fished principally about 
the Magdalensand the north shore of Prince Edward Island, especially 
in the vicinity of Malpec, and the North Cape of the island. On one 
occasion during the fall, while fishing near Cascumpec with a large 
fleet, a smart northwest gale came on very suddenly in the afternoon, 
and most of the fleet went into Malpec. We also made an attempt to 
enter the harbor, but owing to the crowded condition of the vessels in 
the channel and the danger of being injured by a collision, decided to 
run out again and lay by for the night, which we did. During the night 
the iron plate on the stem to which our jibstay set up, was carried 
away and obliged us to go into harbor the following day for repairs. 
We were detained in Malpec several days on account of the strong 
winds and stormy weather. After leaving the harbor we ran up to- 
ward North Cape, trying the ground with the fleet, but failed to find 
mackerel in satisfactory numbers. We therefore ran across to the 
Magdalens, where we continued fishing with indifferent success until 
well into October. Being caught out in a northeast gale, which came 
on suddenly one afternoon, we had our sails badly torn, and were 
obliged to run across the following day to Port Hood for shelter, from 
which place we proceded to Canso for repairs and to land a sick man. 
Leaving Canso, we ran across again to the Magdalens ; but not finding 
any mackerel, returned to Port Hood. In the mean time, during the 
four or five days while we had been absent at the Magdalens, a fleet of 
vessels had found mackerel exceedingly abundant about Margaree 
Island and Cheticamp, on the north side of Cape Breton, and had ob- 
tained exceedingly large catches, in some instances almost entire fares 
having been caught in this short time. The day on which we arrived at 
Port Hood, with other vessels from the Magdalens, the wind was north- 
east, blowing a strong breeze, and most of the vessels which had been 
engaged in fishing along the Cape Breton shore ran into Port Hood for 
a harbor. On the following day, the wind having changed to the south- 
west, Ave, together with many of the other vessels, ran down to the north- 
eastward, along the Cape Breton shore, past Margaree, to Cheticamp 
where we found a fleet of about 75 sail of schooners busily engaged in 
catching mackerel, which were biting eagerly just off the mouth of the 
harbor. Although we did not reach the fleet until about noon, and had 
consequently but few hours to fish, we succeeded in taking 75 wash-barrels 
of fi ne large mackerel. That n ight most of the fleet lay to off Cheticamp, 
preferring to do this instead of anchoring in this one-sided and extremely 
unsafe harbor. On the following morning it was found that the body of 
mackerel had changed its position considerably, and the fish were first 
found off" the eastern end of Cheticamj) Island some six or seven miles 
from where they had been taken the iDrevious afternoon. By this time a 



REPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [300] 

fleet of 250 sail or more had gathered on the fishing-ground ; the wind 
blew a smart breeze from the southwest, and the mackerel, which were 
near or at the surface, were moving northeastwardly in the direction of 
Cape Korth. The fishermen, feeling that it was their last chance of the 
season to obtain any fish, made every possible effort to improve the op- 
portunity, and the scene soon became wild and exciting in the extreme. 
The vessels crowded closely in masses wherever the fish were biting 
best, the eagerness of the fishermen rendering them in many instances 
reckless to a fault ; booms and bowsprits were carried away ; sails were 
torn ; boats smashed up ; and in some cases the broadsides of vessels 
were crushed in, leaving them almost in a sinking condition off a rock- 
bound and dangerous coast many miles from any safe harbor. Though 
the mackerel bit very eagerly while alongside the vessel it was impossi- 
ble to detain them in their onward course for any length of time. The 
consequence of this was that the vessels were in constant motion, shift- 
ing continually to leeward in the direction which the fish were going. 
Most of the vessels obtained good catches, and we succeeded in taking 
about 50 wash-barrels during the day. That night a considerable por- 
tion of the fleet i^assed around Cape Breton, but, owing to the strong 
winds which prevailed for several days thereafter, no reasonable oppor- 
tunity was ofiered for x)ursuing the mackerel any farther, and the vessels 
were obliged to seek shelter in Sydney Harbor, the season by this time 
becoming so far advanced that there was no reasonable prospect of any 
more mackerel for the year; thei'efore, as soon as the state of the weather 
permitted, most of the vessels started for home. We arrived in Glou- 
cester early in November with a fare of 375 barrels. 

186S. — The spring mackerel fishery. 

The southern mackerel fishery will be extensively prosecuted the pres- 
ent season. Some of the fleet have already commenced to fit away, 
and by the latter part of the month there will be quite a large fleet in 
readiness to start, — (Cape Ann Advertiser, April 4, 1868.) 

The southern mackerel fleet have about all sailed. There are from 
40 to 50 vessels in the business this season — a much larger number 
than have ever prosecuted it before. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 
8, 1868.) 

The prospect of a successful catch of mackerel by the southern fleet 
is quite encouraging. One vessel arrived at New York on Friday, after 
two days' absence, with 10,000 mackerel in number ; another had taken 
50 barrels in a week's cruise. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 22, 1868.) 

The fishermen are having a lively time of it in Barnstable Bay. On 
Monday 5,500 mackerel were taken, which were shipped to Boston. 

Three hundred barrels of mackerel, passed over the Cape Cod Eail- 
road, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, for New York and Boston, 
caught by the Cape fishermen. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 22, 1868.) 



[301] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

18G8. — Increase in the price demanded por license to fish 

IN BRITISH WATERS. 

Information has been receved at Ottawa from England that the 
British Government has agreed to fix the tax on American vessels fish- 
ing in Canadian waters at $2 per ton, and that the three warnings here- 
tofore reqnired to be given to American fishing vessels will be dispensed 
with. * * * Our fishermen would not object to a reasonable tax, 
but $2 per ton is altogether too much, — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 
15, 1868.) 

1868. — First arrivals of the southern fleet. 

Two eastern vessels have arrived at this port from the south the 
present week with about 150 barrels of mackerel each. These are the 
first arrivals of the season, and the mackerel met with very ready sales. 
IsTone of the Gloucester fleet have as yet arrived. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
June 5, 1868.) 

1868. — Mackerel plenty off boston. 

Mackerel havebeen quite plenty in the bay (Massachusetts Bay) the past 
week. The school has mostly tended off Boston harbor, and there has' 
been a large catch. They have been retailed for 3 cents each, and the 
demand has been quite lively. — [Ihid.) 

1868. — The mackerel fishery" ; fitting away of the bay fleet ; 
seining to be tried in the bay. 

The George's fishery is now slacking up a little and some of the ves- 
sels are hauling off, preparatory to fitting away for the bay of Saint 
Lawrence. A few of the fleet have already sailed, and by the last of 
the month there will be quite a number of vessels on their way there. 
The bay fleet will be quite as large as it was last season. * * *_ ^ 
new feature will be introduced in this branch of the fisheries this season; 
that of seining. Some seven or eight vessels are to engage in the bus- 
iness, which it is expected will prove very remunerative. It is an ex- 
periment that has never tried, but we see no reason why it should not 
prove as successful as seining on this shore. Should the vessels which 
are to engage in it find it profitable, it will no doubt be more exten- 
sively engaged in another season. 

The southern fleet having had very bad weather through the month 
of May, are rather backward on their trips this season, and but few of 
them have arrived home. Another week will probably bring along most 
of the fleet in time to fit for the bay. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 12, 
1868.) 

18Q8. — The southern fishery^ 

Some fourteen sail of vessels have arrived from the south the present 
week with good fares of mackerel, averaging about 200 barrels ecah. 



REPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [302] 

The mackerel sell readily at remunerative prices (from $6.50 to 19.75), 
and the business bids fair to i)rove as successful as last season. Some 
of the vessels have sailed on second trips, but most of the fleet will fit 
away for the bay on their arrival home. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 
19, 1868.) 

Schooner "Cyrena Ann" arrived from a southern mackereling cruise 
on Tuesday, with 325 barrels of mackerel. About 100 barrels of the trij) 
were taken on George's, which were of good size, and the first caught 
there this season. Cai)tain El well has been absent about six weeks, and 
the vessel will probably stock rising $3,000. This is the best mackerel 
trij) of the season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 3, 1868.) 

1868. — A GOOD TRIP FROM GEORG-E'S. 

Schooner ''Maud Muller" arrived from George's yesterday with 200 
barrels of mackerel, having been absent about three weeks. She spoke 
several of the Gloucester fleet on the banks, all of which are doing 
well. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 31, 1868.) 

1868. — Unfavokable eepoets from the bay. 

The reports from the bay are not so encouraging as could be desired. 
Mackerel are scarce, and the fleet doing little. The catch last season 
showed considerable falling off from the previous year, and appearances 
would seem to indicate a light catch this season. — (Ibid.) 

1868. — Mackeeel abundant on geoege's. 

The mackerel fleet on George's are meeting with excellent luck of late, 
and some very good fares have been landed the last week. The mack- 
erel are of good quality, and the vessels are doing much better than those 
that have gone to the bay. One vessel which started for the bay stop- 
ped to try for mackerel on the banks, and returned home on Monday, 
with 230 barrels. The eastern shore fleet are also doing better of late, 
and the prospect now is that the home-catch will prove far more remun- 
erative than the bay the present season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Au- 
gust 7, 1868.) 

Excellent success of one of the shoee fleet. 

Schooner "Eureka" is high line of the mackerel fleet from this port, 
having already landed 800 barrels thus far this season. She has made 
four trips and her net stock is $904. — {Ibid.) 

1868. — Fiest aeeivals feom the bat. — eepoeted scaecity of 
mackerel in the gulf. — peices. 

Schooner "A. H. Wonson" arrived from the Bay Saint Lawrence 
yesterday with 200 barrels of mackerel, having been absent nine weeks. 
This is the first arrival of the season, and is about a week later than 



[303] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHEEY. 

tlie first arrival last year. Captain Webber reports mackerel very- 
scarce, and the fleet not doing mucb. He beard of no vessel baying over 
100 barrels. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 14, 18G8.) 

Scbooner '' Sargent S. Day" arrived from bay, on Wednesday, witb 125 
barrels of mackerel, having been absent since the 1st of June. This is 
the second arrival of the season, and rather a poor fare ; but there are 
many of the fleet who have not done as well as this. * * * Last year 
38 sailing vessels arrived during the month of August, averaging about 
180 barrels each. The scarcity of mackerel causes prices to rule high, 
and bay 1 sell at $25.25, against $18 last season. The shore fleet bring 
in some pretty good fares lately, which meet with ready sale. — (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, August 21, 1868.) 

1868.— Arrivals from the bay. 

Twenty-one vessels have arrived from the bay since our last issue, 
averaging about 150 barrels each. The total number of arrivals thus 
far this season is 41, and an aggregate ,of 6,000 barrels of mackerel, 
against 65 vessels and 13,000 barrels up to this time last year — quite a 
large falling off". — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 11, 1868.) 

1868. — American vessels not troubled by English cruisers 

in the bay. 

Thus far, the mackerel fleet fishing at the bay have not been troubled 
by English cruisers. There seems to be a good feeling prevalent in that 
quarter, and the American fishermen catch mackerel whenever and 
wherever they can prevail ui)on them to take the hook. — {Ibid.) 

1868. — Mackerel in Gloucester harbor. 

Mackerel made their appearance in our harbor on Satui-day for the 
first time this season. They were of small size. The schools have also 
shown themselves several times this week. — (Cape Ann Advertiser 
September 18, 1868.). 

1868. — The baymen. — doings of the shore and George's fleet. 

There have been but few arrivals from the bay the past week, as those 
of the fleet that intend making two trips have about all arrived home. 
Several of the vessels which had small fares have shipped them by 
steamer, and refitted there for a second trip. Less than one-fifth of the 
fleet will make two trips, and there will be a great falling oft' in the 
catch from last season, providing all the vessels get full fares this fall. 
About 1,000 barrels of shore have arrived the past week, but the 
George's fleet have done nothing, the mackerel having left the banks. — 
{Ibid.) 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [304] 

1868. — Influence of the mackerel fishery on the welfare of 

THE FISHINa towns. 

The success of the mackerel fleet, both at the bay and off-shore, is 
looked forward to with deep interest. There is much depending upon 
the fall catch. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 15, 1868.) 

1868. — Scarcity of mackerel attriruted to bluefish. 

Bluefish have, been unusually plenty on this coast the present season, 
and the fishermen attribute the scarcity of mackerel to this fact. They 
are great destroyers of smaller fish, especially of mackerel, and when- 
ever they come, the " small fry " get away as soon as possible. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, September 25, 1868.) 

1868. — Successful catches made by the ^seiners off the new 
england coast. — unfavorable news from the bay. 

The weather the past week has been very favorable for the shore fleet, 
and the seiners have had pretty good luck, some of them taking from 
100 to 150 barrels in one day. The mackerel, however, do not take the 
hook very readily. They are of large size, and if the good weather 
holds on the fleet will yet have an opportunity of making up a fair sea- 
son's work. The baymen are picking up a few mackerel when the 
weather is favorable ; but the catch there will not be large, and those 
vessels that succeed in making even one good trip will be fortunate. 
Late advices from there are not very encouraging. — (Cape Ann Adver- 
tiser, October 2, 1868.) 

1868. — Arrivals from the bay. — slim doinos. 

Fifty-six sail of vessels have arrived from the bay since our last issue. 
most of them with light fares. There are upwards of 100 sail yet to ar- 
rive, most of which will be along by the middle of the month. So fixr 
as we can learn the v^essels will average about 150 barrels each, which 
is rather slim doings for those that have been down there all the season. 
There will be quite a falling off" in the catch — fully one-half — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, November 6, 1868.) 

A large portion of the bay fleet have arrived the present week, leav- 
ing about 10 sail to come. In consequence of the light catch the market 
is very active, and fares are sold as soon as landed. Prices are improv- 
ing, sales yesterday being effected at |22, and the probability is that 
they will go still higher. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 13, 1868. 

1868.— Sad results of the failure of the mackerel fishery 

IN 1868. 

Themackereling season is rapidly drawing to a close, and with some 
few exceptions the profits are on the wrong side of the ledger. Every- 



[305] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

thing has been done within the power of mortals to render the season a 
successful one. The vessels have been ou the ground early and late, 
and in some instances days have merged into weeks without having a real 
lively catch. This has been exceedingly discouraging, no one can 
deny. * * * 

That there are very many families in this town who have no money 
wherewith to support life the coming winter, on account of the poor re- 
turns of the mackerel season, is also a fact that stares us in the face in 
these dull and cheerless days of November. * * * The fishermen 
with families dependent upon them for bread are eager and anxious to 
be earning. It is no fault of theirs that they have not a balance of two 
or three hundred dollars whereby to meet the wants of their l^milies. 
They did their best and failed. Such men are deserving of praise and 
substantial encouragement. * * * 

Let us hope that winter fishing will yield good returns ; and it hardly 
seems possible that there can be another unsuccessful mackereling sea- 
son to follow in the footsteps of the past three years.— (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, November 13, 1867.) 

1868. — EeTMINISCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

During the early part of 1868 I was engaged in the cod fisheries on 
G eorge's and Western Bank ; but leaving this fishery, I started for the 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the schooner "Glenwood"in July. ^ We 
fished about the north side of Prince Edward Island, on Bank Bradley 
along the west shore, in the Bay of Chaleur, and about the Magdalens. 
Mackerel were large, but perceptibly scarcer than for a number of years 
previous. Having obtained a fare of over 200 barrels, we returned 
home in the latter iDart of August to pack out our fish and refit for a 
second trip to the bay. On our second trip we fished chieflj'^ about the 
Magdalens, though to some extent off east point of Prince Edward 
Island and along the north shore of Cape Breton. We obtained a fare 
of good barrels, and arrived home about the middle of November. 

1868.— Mackerel fishery on the French coast. 

The mackerel fishing on the French coast is at present exceedingly 
good. Two smacks have just returned to Dieppe, one with 12,060 fish 
and the other with 18,525. Also a boat belonging to Boulogne has 
brought in nearly 18,000.— (Barnstable Patriot, May 12, 1868.) 

1869. — AjMERICAN vessels in the gulf of saint LAWRENCE." 

The following statement of the number of fishing vessels in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery and the American shore mackerel 
fishery, was submitted by David W. Low to the Halifax Commission :* 

Barrels. 

194 vessels in Gulf, average catch 209 barrels 40, 546 

151 vessels off shore, average catch 222 barrels 33, 552 

Mackerel caught by boats and some eastern vessels, packed in Gloucester 19, 028 

* Documents and Proceedings Halifax Commission, 1877, U. S. edition, p. 2595. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [306] 

1869. — Mackerel fishing in cape cod bay. 

Three thousand mackerel were taken in the last weir at Provincetown 
in two ni^ijfhts.— (Provincetown Advertiser, June 23, 1809.) 

1869. — Fall fishery in cape cod bay. 

M. L. Adams caught, on Thursday morning in his weir, eight tons of 
mackerel, and Thursday evening, 2,200 mackerel. — (Provincetown Ad- 
vertiser, November 10, 1869.) 

1869. — High price for mackerel. 

« 
Bay mackerel have advanced to $28 per barrel, $1.10 more than they 

sold for last year at this time. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, April 30, 1869.) 

1869. — fresh mackerel in boston. 

Presli mackerel have made their appearance in Boston market the 
past week, and are selling for 30 and 35 cents apiece. — (Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser, May 7, 18 )9.) 

1869.— GOOD catches of the provincetown gill-netters. 

The several Provincetown mackerel fishermen, which have been ren- 
dezvousing in Barnstable Harbor, have been very successful the past 
week. On some days they have averaged 2,000 [mackerel] to a boat. 
They are taken by nets. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 14, 1869.) 

1869. — Early appearance of mackerel off cape Ann. — good 
catches by the seiners. 

Mackerel have been quite plenty off this shore the past week, and the 
seiners have made some pretty good hauls. One vessel belonging to 
this port took as high as 120 wash -barrels on Monday ; and others from 
20 to 50 wash-barrels. ISTone of the southern fleet have as yet arrived. 
One Gloucester vessel has been into New York with a small fare which 
were sold for $500. Mackerel are earlier than usual oii'shore this sea- 
son, and the prospect for the home fleet is very encoui aging.— (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, May 28, 1869.) 

1869.— First arrivals from the south. — prices. 

'Schooner ''Hattie Lewis" arrived at this port on Saturday, from 
the south, with 205 barrels of mackerel, and the "Northern Light" on 
Wednesday with 50 barrels. Yesterday the schooner "Colorado" ar- 
rived with 250 barrels, and others of the fleet are daily expected. These 
are the first arrivals of the season, the mackerel selling for $8 and $10 
per barrel. The reports from the fleet do not indicate a very heavy 
catch thus far, but there is yet time for the vessels to make fair trips 
before fitting for the bay. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 4, 1869.) 



[307] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1SG9.— Big catch o a weir at cape cod. 

About 100,000 mackerel were taken in the " Philip Smith weir," at 
Eastham, week before last, netting the owner about $7,000. So says 
the Barnstable Patriot. — (i bid.) 

1869.— Effect of the reciprocity treaty on nova scotia. 

The Halifax Chronicle, in speaking of the great need of a reciprocity 
between the Dominion and the United States, has the following signifi- 
cant article : 

Our rulers should have common sense enough to cease prating about 
the Dominion dignity, and to make some strong effort to renew the reci- 
procity treaty, the abrogation of which has reduced this country and 
the other maritime provinces tp a state of comparative destitution. 
From the making of the reciprocity treaty until its abrogation, Nova 
Scotia increased in wealth and population at a most extraordinary rate; 
from its abrogation until the present we have retrograded with the most 
frightful rapidity. Want of a good market has depreciated the value 
of our coal mines, has nearly pauperized our fishermen, farmers, and 
miners, and should this want not be supplied in the only way it can be, 
by anew treaty with the United States, Kova Scotia will in five years be 
one of the least desirable countries to live in on this continent.— (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, July 2, 1869.) 

1869. — The bay fishery. — oood catch on George's. 

A dispatch was received in town on Monday by the owners of schooner 
"Finance," stating that she had landed 260 barrels of mackerel. Some 
good fares of mackerel have also been taken on George's lately.— (Cape 
Ann Advertiser, July 30, 1869.) 

1869. — First arrival from the bay. 

Schooner "Carleton" arrived from the bay on Wednesday, with 300 
barrels of mackerel. This is the first vessel that has arrived from there 
this season. The ''Carleton" made her trip in less than six weeks.— 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, August 20, 1869.) 

1869. — Arrival of the baymen. — inferior quality* of bay 

MACKEREL. — PRICES. — SUCCESS OF THE SHORE FLEET. 

The bay fleet have not come along very freely the present week, but 
nine vessels having arrived since our last, making 22 in all that have 
arrived thus far this season. The fares average about 250 barrels, and 
the mackerel are of fair quality, but not so fat as those caught on this 
shore, and do not bring so good prices. Bay ones have been sold 
the present week for $18 per barrel, $4 less than the first trips that 
were brought in. Some of the fleet have shipped the mackerel home 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [308] 

by steamer and refitted in the bay for another trip in order to save time, 
and the prosi:)ect for the fall catch is considered very good. A large 
portion of the fleet went into the bay late in Jnly, and will make but 
one trii5. The shore fleet are doirg fairly of late, and the mackereling 
season bids fair to be a successful one. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Septem- 
ber 10, 1869.) 

1869. — High line of the bay fleet. 

Schooner " Finance," of this port, has recently landed her second fare 
of mackerel, 250 barrels, at Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island), mak- 
ing in all 510 barrels landed thus far. On her last trip she took 130 
wash-barrels in one day. She is now out on her third trip, and bids fair 
to make a great season's work. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 37, 
1869.) 

1869. — Success of the wellflbet schooners. 



teen thousand barrels have been landed on the wharves, and 3,500 bar- 



The mackerel catchers of Wellfleet have done remarably well. Six- 
jen thousand barrels havt 
rels are now afloat. — {Ibid. 

1869. — The batmen. 

Seven of the bay fleet have arrived since our last issue, bringing 
about 1,700 barrels of mackerel. — {Ibid.) 

1869. — Great disaster to the shore mackerel fleet. 

A terrific hurricane swept the coast of New England on the 8th of 
September, causing great loss of life and property in the mackerel fleet. 
The gale came on so suddenly and unexpectedly that the vessels were 
not able to reach a harbor in time to escape its fury, and being caught 
on a lee shore many of them were driven ashore. The Cape Ann Ad- 
vertiser of September 10 and 17 gives detailed accounts of the losses. 

1869. — Small fall catch in the bay. — light fares brought 

home by baymen. 

The prospect "in the bay in the early part of the season for a success- 
ful catch of mackerel was most excellent, as many of the vessels ob- 
tained good fares on their arrival there ; but the September catch fell 
off amazingly, and for the past month the vessels have done nothing at 
all.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 28, 1869.) 

The bay fleet have mostly arrived home, there being but about forty 
sail now absent. The fares brought in are very light, ranging from 20 
to 100 barrel*, and the market is quite firm at advanced prices. ISTo. I's 
are selling the present week at |25 per barrel, and IsTo. 2's at $15. 

Shore mackerel are out of the market. The last sales of Ko. I's were 
made at $26.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, IsTovember 12, 1869.) 



[309] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1869. — Eeminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

HaA'iug spent the greater -pavt of the fishing season in the pnrsnit of 
codfish on George's, Western Bank, Cape North, and the Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence, I did not engage iuthe mackerel fishery in 1869 until August, 
■when I went to the bay in the " Glenwood." We fished principally 
about the Magdalens and along the west shore between Escuminac, 
Point Miscou, and oif the North Cape of Prince Edward Island. The 
best catch of mackerel which we obtained was in Miramichi Bay, eight 
or ten miles off shore, about the middle of September. At this time we 
had taken, in three or four weeks' fishing, 14'0 barrels of fine large mack- 
erel, notwithstanding the fact that these fish were still less abundant 
than they had been the previous season. A strange thing occurred in 
the mackerel fishery of the Saint Lawrence in the fall of 1869, since the 
mackerel appeared to leave the bay much earlier than usual. After the 
middle of September but few fish were obtained by any of the fleet, and 
none secured large catches. Though we remained in the bay until the 
]niddle of October or later, and made every effort to catch fish on all of 
the principal grounds, yet we succeeded in -taking only five barrels in 
addition to what we previously had, and this amount was a fair average 
for the fleet. Some four or five vessels, as it was reported, caught 30 or 
40 barrels each off the North Cape of Prince Edward Island about the 
last of September or beginning of October ; but, so far as I was able to 
learn, no other catches of importance were made after the middle of 
September. The vessels that went to the bay early endtigh to obtain 
reasonably good fares before the mackerel left the fishing-grounds were 
partially remunerated for the loss of time by the advance in the price of 
the fish, which resulted from the small catch. 

1870. — Small number of newbitrtport vessels engaged in the 

SOUTHERN mackerel FISHERY. 

The Newburyport Herald of the 29th ultimo says: '^The southern 
fleet will be remarkably small this season, some of the vessels which 
usually go south engaging in the herring fisheries at the Magdalen Isl- 
ands. This business is thought by some to be more profitable than the 
early mackereling triijs." — (Gloucester Telegraph, May 7, 1870.) 

1870. — Success of the gill-net fishSry" in barnstable bay. 

The Cape Cod Gazette says : " Six mackerelmen have been doing a 
brisk business in meshing mackerel in the bay off Sandwich." — (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, May 18, 1870.) 

success OF TWO " SOUTH-SHORE" VESSELS. 

Schooner "Isaac Somes," of Harwich, with a crew of 19 men, has 
landed this season 1,800 barrels of mackerel; stocked, $15,875; aver- 
age stock among the crew, $886. 



REPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [310] 

Schooner " Mary B. Taylor," of the same port, with a crew of 23 men, 
landed 1,912 barrels of mackerel ; stocked, $17,400 ; average stock among 
the crew, $756.30.— (Gloucester Telegraph, i^ovember 23, 1870.) 

1870. — Notes on the southern mackerel fishery. 

A Newport correspondent says that " the mackerel fleet as yet, ac- 
cording to the most reliable news, have done but a slim business. Some 
30 sail of vessels were at Newport on the 17th instant, ready to proceed 
to sea, having obtained bait from the Vineyard Sound fish weirs." — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, May 25, 1870.) 

1870. — First arrival prom the south. 

The schooner " Geo. S. Low " is the first to arrive from the southern 
mackereling grounds, bringing 190 barrels of mackerel of good quality 
for the season. — (Gloucester Telegraph, May 28, 1870.) 

1870. — Success of the southern mackerel fleet. 

The southern mackerel fleet are meeting with a very fair success. 
There have been four arrivals at this port, bringing good fares. Nan-, 
tucket reports an arrival with 137 barrels, and the Newburyport fleet 
have averaged over one hundred barrels each so far this season. — 
(Gloucester Telegraj)h, June 4, 1870.) 

1870. — Eeported small catch of mackerel in the gulf of saint 
lawrence. — profitable shore fishing. 

News from the Bay of Saint Lawrence indicates that the mackerel 
catch has been small so far this season, although large schools are re- 
])orted in the waters about Prince Edward Island. The shore macker- 
eling business continues to prove profitable, and this, with the troubles 
in the bay, will have a tendency to diminish the number of vessels pur- 
suing the bay fishing this season. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 16, 1870.) 

1870. — Abundance of mackerel in Gloucester harbor. 

A school of mackerel was in our harbor yesterday. They took to the 
hook well, and good fares were secured by anything in the shape of a 
boat. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 10, 1870.) 

1870. — Fishing in Massachusetts bay. 

The Yarmouth Herald, of last Friday, says: " Mackerel are taken in 
considerable quantities in our bay, and cod and bass in our weirs." — 
(Gloucester Telegraph, May 18, 1870.) 

On Monday of last week the SwamjDscott fishermen made a good haul 
of mackerel oft' Egg Eock. One schooner took a fare of 80 barrels, 
another of 75, and six others made good trips. Some of the drag-boats 
brought in from six to eight hundred mackerel apiece from their net- 
fishing. — (Gloucester Telegrai)h, June 8, 1870.) 



[311] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1870. — Fall fishing in barnstable bay. 

The Provincetown uetters last week caught considerable quantities of 
mackerel in Barnstable Bay; 25,000 were sent to Boston by the steamer 
on a recent trip. — (Gloucester Telegraph, November 23, 1870.) 

1870. — Spring mackerel fishery. 

Mackerel are finding their way along the coast in considerable num- 
bers. On Friday one of our fishing schooners arrived with a fare of 
35 barrels which had been taken that day in her seine. The mackerel 
were large and handsome, though not fat. — (Gloucester Telegraph, May 

25, 1870.) 

1870. — Fishing in Massachusetts bay. 

Mr. William Stone, of Swampscott, had unusually good luck in his net- 
fishing week before last, making, including JMonday's and Tuesday's 
catch, over $200 by the sale of mackerel landed by himself from a dory 
during eight days. On Tuesday he caught over 500, which netted him 
6 cents apiece. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 15, 1870.) 

1870. — Spring mackerel fishery in cape Ann bay. 

The fishermen at Scusset one day last week took 15,000 mackerel. — 
(Barnstable Patriot, May 31, 1870.) 

1870. — First mackerel in Massachusetts bay. 

Capt. Miles Blanchard, ot Swampscott, caught some fine mackerel 
in the bay on Friday, the first of the season. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
May 18, 1870.) 

1870. — The mackerel fleet. 

On one occasion 625 mackerel schooners were anchored in the harbor 
at Gloucester. 

1870. — The mackerel fishery. 

The Portland Press of the 10th says that for ten days past the mack- 
erel fleet had not met with a single mackerel until Friday morning, 
when they encountered great schools of them about 80 miles off the 
Cape. They had great luck, and for the next week we may expect they 
will spend the nights with us. The harbor is packed with their vessels ; 
some 400 sail arrived in the harbor yesterday afternoon, presenting a 
splendid sight as they came past the breakwater under full canvas at 
race-horse speed. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 11, 1870.) 

1870. — The mackerel fishery" of the gulf of saint lawrence. 

A fishing schooner arrived at Booth Bay on Sunday from the Bay 
Saint Lawrence with a fare of 380 barrels of mackerel. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, October 15, 1870.) 



eepoet of commtssionee of fish and fisheries. [312] 

1870. — Success of the swampscott market fishermen. 

One of the Swampscott fishing vessels, last week, with a captain and 
three men, caught more than 4,000 mackerel, some of which were sold 
on the beach for 20 cents each. Another caught 4,800 5 another, 4,000; 
one man alone, 900; a man and his son, 1,000; another man and his 
son, 1,400 ; and a single man and his dory, 800.— (Gloucester Telegraph, 
October 19, 1870.) 

1870. — Gill-netting at dennis. — new yoek prices for fresh 

mackerel. 

The mackerel- netters of Dennis made one or two good hauls, and but 

for the unfavorable weather last week w^ould have done well, the prices 

of fresh mackerel in 'New York being from IS to 20 cents apiece.— 

(Gloucester Tel graph, j^Iovember 23, 1870.) 
* 

1870. — The mackerel fishery from Gloucester. 

Fifty-nine vessels pursued the southern mackerel fishery in the 
spring, seven of them making two trips. Good fares were secured and 
the fleet was free from accident. The shore mackerel fleet was un- 
wsu'ally large during-the summer months, and proved successful. One 
vessel was lost in the business, the schooner "Day Star," 40.46 tons bur- 
den. The bay fleet was a very small one, owing to the difficulties ap- 
prehended and experienced from the course pursued by the Dominion 
authorities. This business met with serious embarrassments by the 
seizure of four of our vessels and the threatened seizure of others, and 
the business as a whole did not prove piofitable. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, November 19, 1870.) 

1870. — General discussion of the mackerel fishery. 

The southern mackerel season was closed up during the early part of 
the month of July, eight \ essels arriving home from the south during 
the first ten days of the month, six of which were from a second trip. 
The whole number ol vessels reported as making southern trips in pur- 
suit of mackerel this season was 59, of which number seven made two 
trips each. These vessels met with a very fair success, and lound a 
ready market for their catch on their arrival home. 

The eastern mackerel fishing was actively pursued during the month, 
and a large proportion of the fleet secured excellent fares. The num- 
ber of fares landed at this port in July was about 80, and the market 
has been quite active, and the stock has been kept well reduced. Some 
20 vessels have also been engaged in seining along the eastern sbore, 
ostensibly for joorgie bait, but some of them have made good hauls of 
mackerel in their seines, and have made good trips. 

The Bay of Saint Lawrence fleet has been constantly augmented, and 



[313] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

SO far as is kuown has been free from molestation by British cruisers of 
late. The fleet now in the bay is quite respectable in point of numbers, 
though probably not as large as the last few years. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, August G, 1870.) 

The shoi'e mackerel fishing is now at its height, and employs a large 
fleet from the Cape Ann and Cape Cod fishing towns. During the 
mouth of August 117 Gloucester vessels were reixirted as arriviug from 
raackereiing cruises east, 11 of which arrived twice, making a total of 
128 fares of shore mackerel landed at Gloucester in August, against 
some 80 fares in July. Besides these, 17 vessels engaged in seining ar- 
rived during the month, many of which had secured good fares of 
mackerel. There were 20 arrivals Irom seining in July. The fleet has 
met with good success, although as a rule the mackerel have not been 
of a very good quality. The last week or two, however, has shown an 
improvement in the quality of the smaller grades, and the disparity of 
prices between the ones and twos will i^robably soon be lessened. No. 1 
mackerel have commauded-good prices, ruling from $22 to $20 per bar- 
rel for shore, but most of the 2's have been closed out at $9.75 per bar- 
rel, and 3's have ruled at $0 per barrel since the 1st of July. The ar- 
rivals from the bay have not been numerous. Only 10 vessels have ar- 
rived here this season, and these have met with a moderate success, 
averaging about 2C0 barrels each. The bay mackerel received have 
been of good quality, and sold at $24 to $25 per barrel for j:so. I's; 
$12.50 to $13 for 2's, and $10.50 for 3's. 

Last year the number of arrivals from the bay to this date was 13. 
In 1 868 only 8 vessels arrived in August. In 1867 there were 51 arrivals, 
and in 1866 84 arrivals from the bay previous to this date. The aver- 
age fares of the bay fleet arriving previous to September, last year, was 
about 290 barrels. The Portland fleet are doing about the same as the 
Gloucester vessels, 13 arrivals having been reported, with a total catch 
of 2,384 barrels. 

Letters received at Newburyport state that 9 vessels belonging to 
that port had fares on the 15th ultimo ranging from 20 to 110 barrels, and 
averaging 55^ barrels each, and there has been one arrival from the bay, 
at I^ewburyport, with only 80 barrels. Three vessels have arrived at 
Booth Bay from the bay, averaging less than 150 barrels each. — (Glou- 
cester Telegraph, September 3, 1870.) 

3870. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

In the summer of 1870 I started on a mackerel trip to the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence, about the middle of June, in the new schooner "Alice 
G. Wonson." We reached the flsliing ground about the 25th of June. 
The mackerel in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence were large, but very scarce, 
and they did not seem to fatten so rapidly as in previous years. We 
returned home in August after an absence of eight or ten weeks, with 
a fare of 175 barrels of mackerel, which brought a high price, our No. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [314] 

1 fisli selling for $22.50 per barrel. After packing out our bay trip \re 
engaged in the mackerel fisliery off the ISTew England coast, fishing all 
the way from Mount Desert Eock to Cape Cod, though we caught but 
few^ mackerel east of Mouhegan. The fish o& our own shore in 1870 
were of medium size, the greater portion packing for No. 2's. Mackerel 
were abundant, but did not seem inclined to take the hook very readily 
until they began moving to the westward along the coast toward Cape 
Ann and Cape Cod. Good catches were obtained oif Boone Island, Ips- 
wich Bay, and in Massachusetts and Barnstable Bays. We made two 
trips off shore, securing a catch of about 300 barrels. 

1870. — The mackerel fishery of the saint lawrence.— hostil- 
ities OF CANADIANS CAUSES LOSS TO AMERICAN VESSELS. 

The following extract from the Gloucester Telegraph shows the con- 
dition of the Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery during the year 
1870: 

" The Bay of Saint Lawrence mackereling season has closed, and the 
ill success of this branch of our industry is apparent at a glance. The 
hostile attitude of the Dominion Government had a tendency to deter 
many vessels from engaging in this fishing, so that the early fleet in the 
bay was quite small, and the success of the shore fleet later in the sea- 
son tended to still further decrease the num>ber of vessels engaging in 
the bay fishery, so that our fleet was smaller than for many years. The 
whole number of vessels reported as making bay trips this year is but 
80, only three of which made two trips each, and none were allowed to 
ship mackerel home; whereas, last year, there were 194 vessels employed 
in the bay fishery, 21 making two trips, and 33 shipping their early trip 
home, and refitting in the i:)rovincial ports. 

'•'Four Gloucester vessels were seized this season by the Canadian 
authorities on the pretense of unlawful fishing; one of these was re- 
leased under a bond to pay whatever damages were found by the courts ; 
one was condemned and repurchased by her owners at a cost of nearly 
$3,000, and two remain in the hands of the provincials." — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, November 16, 1870.) 

1871. — Lack of interest in the mackerel fishery exhibited by 
canadian fishermen. 

Mackerel Fishery. — Gaspe division. 

"In a special report on the duties performed by 'La Canadienne' in 
connection with the marine police, I shall have the honor of speaking 
of mackerel fishing by foreign schooners. This pursnit is not much fol- 
lowed by our own fishermen, ana has steadily decreased since 1869. 
The fish did not come near the shores, and not more than 100 barrels 
were caught in Bay des Chaleurs. It was more abundant in Gaspe 
Bay, the catch being 400 barrels over that of last year. Cod-fishing is 
the main occupation of the peoi^le in this division. This fish was so 



[SI 5] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

abundant, and the price of mackerel so low, that this may account for 
their not attending to the latter." — (Report of the cruise of the gov- 
ernment schooner " La Canadienne," in the Eiver and Gulf of Saint 
Lawrence, for the season of 1871, under command of N. Lavoie, esq., 
lisherj^ officer. Annual report of the department of marine and fish- 
eries, for the year ending 30th June, 1871, Appendix C, pages 19, 20.) 

Watsheeshoo District. Felix Sylvestre, overseer. 

" Mackerel abundant, but the fishermen of this division do not follow 
this fishing." — (Synopsis of fishery overseers' and guardians' reports in 
the Province of Quebec, for the season 1871. Annual report marine 
and fisheries, 1871, Appendix H, page 72.) 

MoisiE Division. F. Thivierge, overseer. 

Mackerel were abundant. The fishermen in this division do not, 

however, in general, follow this fishing, but one man took 01 barrels. — • 

{lb., p. 71.) 

Pabos Division. James M. Eemon, overseer. 

In "the mackerel fishing nothing is done beyond taking what is re- 
quired for bait. — (i&., p. 07.) 

Anticosti Division. 

" Although mackerel are very abundant around the island they are 
not much sought after, and only 20 barrels were caught at Salmon 
Eiver." — (Report of IST. Lavoie, commander government schooner "La 
Canadienne," of a cruise in the Eiver and Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 1872. 
Annual Report, marine and fisheries of Canada, 1872, Appendix B.) 

1871. — Inferior quality of mackerel taken in Canadian 

WATERS. 

The following is taken from letters furnished by the county overseers 
of Kova Scotia to Mr. Rogers, the fish-officer of the i)rovince : 

" I am happy to be able to report a very large increase in the quanti- 
ties of almost all kinds of fish taken this year, and although prices have 
ruled much lower for most descriptions, the aggregate value is more 
than one million dollars over the previous year. Mackerel, particu- 
larly, show a very large increase, but being mostly the early runs, they 
are inferior in quality." — (Report of W. H. Yenning, esq., inspector of 
fish for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Annual report marine and 
fisheries, 1871, Appendix N.) 

1871. — Bad season for mackerel in the gulf of saint Law- 
rence. 

These fish struck in on our shores about the middle of June in large 
quantities, and the first catches were taken in a very short time, some 
vessels taking 200 barrels in three weeks ; but the fish were poor, not 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [316] 

making more than tlirees when culled. After that the catch was moder- 
ate, and I do not think that more than 30,000 barrels of mackerel were 
taken by the whole fleet. It has been a bad year for mackerel, the mar- 
ket prices, as a rule, being one-half below the average prices, and great 
numbers of American vessels were laid up by their owners, for the rea- 
son that the outlay required for fitting the vessel out for fishing being 
more than the proceeds of the summer work. — (G. V. Story, commander 
marine police schooner '' Water Lily," Pictou, November 27, 1871.) 

The mackerel fishery. — The Gloucester Telegraph says that the 
latest news from the Bay of Saint Lawrence reports a large number of 
American vessels on the fishing-grounds between Saint Margaret's and 
East Point, with mackerel scarce at the time. At Eustico mackerel 
catching was slack, and had been for a fortnight, though the few caught 
were larger than the earlier school. Mackerel were reported plenty at 
Port Daniel and East Point. All the fish were east of Eustico, and the 
Oascumpec boats reported neither codfish nor mackerel west. Sixty sail 
of vessels were reported at Magdalen Island on the 3d instant, with 
mackerel scarce, and reports from Bradley's, three days later, represent 
fish "few and far between." — (Boston Journal, August 26, 1871.) 

1871. — EeAPPEARANCE of mackerel on the LABRADOR COAST 
AFTER FORTY YEARS' ABSENCE, 

"Mackerel, which for the last 40 years had disapj^eared from the waters 
of the coast of Labrador, returned this season and in as great abundance 
as formerly. I have seen as many as 400 or 500 barrels caught in one 
haul of the seine at Bonne Esperance and Meccatina. Several schoon- 
ers loaded at Seven Islands. Mackerel remained two months in the bay 
during the winter. A much larger quantity than was needed for their 
own use was caught at several ports along the coast, but prices were 
very low. There is no doubt that if codfish and mackerel continue to 
visit the waters of this division in as large numbers as they did this 
year, the coast of Labrador will assume au importance which may be- 
come superior to that of the Gaspe division." — (Eeport of the cruise of 
the government schooner "La Canadienne," in the Eiver and Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence for the season of 1871, under command of N. Lavoie, 
esq., fishery officer. Annual report of the department of marine and 
fisheries for the year ending 30th June, 1871, Ai^pendix C, page 26.) 

1871. — Abundance of mackerel at small point, me. 

The Bath (Me.) Times says that ou Thursday, Small Point Harbor was 
thronged with mackerel, the like of which was never known, and count- 
less thousands of them were caught in seines, nets, and with hook and 
line. One fishing vessel secured a thousand barrels. Other vessels got 
several hundred barrels, and the citizens in that vicinity made free 
with that "school" without consulting the teacher. — (Germantown 
Telegraph, August 16, 1871.) 



[317] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1871. — ISTOTES ON THE MACKEREL FISHEIIIES, ETC., OF THE PROV- 
INCES OF NEW BRUNSWICK AND NOVA SCOTIA. 

In liis report for 1871 Mr. Yenning states that Mr. John Fitzgerakl, 
overseer for the western district, says: "The mackerel was more pro- 
ductive this year than it has been for the hist ten years, but the quality 
was very poor. The fall mackerel have been a total failure ; and as this 
fish, if of first quality, would bring a high price, the loss has been 
seriously felt by the fishermen. The mackerel that have been caught 
this year have brought a very low price, but when the large quantity 
taken is considered, the fishermen have no reason to complain." 

Mr. Daniel Dimock, overseer for the eastern district of Lunenburg, 
says: ''The shore fisheries in this district have been productive, more 
especially the mackerel." 

In same report, Mr. Yenning also stated that, " Overseer James A. 
Tory, of Guysborough County, says with reference to his district: 'The 
fisheries as a whole have been good this season, especially for mackerel, 
and although prices have ruled low they will compare favorably with 
the past.' " 

In same report Mr. Yenning further states that, "Mr. Francis Qui- 
nan, the officer in charge of Cape Breton County, reports as follows : 
' The total quantity of fish taken is considerably above that of former 
years. The run of mackerel was abundant, but of small size ; the large 
brands were conspicuous by their absence; No. 3's ruled, and of their 
kind were good, but the price realized in our markets was less than iu 
years past.'" — (Eeport of W. H. Yenning, esq., inspector 'of fisheries 
for jSTova Scotia and 'Sew Brunswick. An. Eep. Mar. and Fish., 1871, 
Appendix ]S.) 

. 1871. — The mackerel fishery. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of September 1 gives the following account 
of the mackerel fishery in 1871 : 

" The fisheries. — The bay fleet come along slowly. There have been 
but eleven arrivals thus far, the vessels averaging about 300 barrels 
each. The quality of the mackerel is not as good as those taken off this 
shore, and but few number ones have as yet been landed, but the catch 
of the present month and next will, no doubt, average much better. 
Prices rule low, considering the small number of barrels landed this 
year, and it will require pretty large fares to realize a paying season's 
work. Late advices from the bay report mackerel scarce. 

"The shore fleet have done rather a slim business the past month. 
Some of the seiners have made some good trips, but the hookers, with 
a few exceptions, have done very poorly, the mackerel not inclining to 
bite. Had it not been for the seiners the market would have been bare 
of shore mackerel ; as it is, the catch has not been half as large as it was 
up to this time last year. The mackerel average mostly ones and are 
very large and fat, the quality being much better than those caught off 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. f^l^J 

this sliore last year, but the prices rule much lower. No. 1 's are selling 
the present week for $11.25 per barrel, less than one-half the price they 
brought at this time last year. Unless mackerel come in more freely 
than they have, the season's catch will be light and prices must nec- 
essarily advance. 

"The George's fishery has been prosecuted through the season by a 
much larger fleet than usual, and most of them have realized very good 
fares. The catch is greatly in excess of that of last year, and although 
the prices have not been as remunerative, still the increase in catch will 
more than make up the difference, and the vessels engaged in this 
branch of the fisheries will make a very good season's work. 

"The Grand Bank halibut fleet have brought in rather light fares of 
late, and prices have ruled low. About thirty sail of vessels are now 
engaged in this branch of the fisheries, and the business, as a whole, 
has proved but moderately successful." (Boston Journal, September 22.) 

"Bay saint lawrence mackerel fishery. — The mackerel fish- 
ery for this season is rapidly drawing to a close. The shore fleet are 
doing but little, and may soon be expected in our waters for a week or 
two, preparatory to winding up the business for the year. The news 
from the bay indicates a scarcity of mackerel, and, as rough weather 
may soon be expected, a large portion of the fleet will soon be along. 
The number of arrivals from the bay reported at Gloucester this season 
has been fifty-two. The fares have been comparatively small, and the 
quality poor, while prices have ruled much lower than the past few 
years. The fares of 31 Gloucester vessels have been reported, ranging 
from IGO to 450 barrels, and averaging 247 barrels, which will probably 
be about the average of the fleet. Sixteen of the Portland fleet show 
an average of 211 barrels, and 11 of the jSTewburyport fleet show an 
average catch of 192 barrels. The average catch of the fleet from other 
fishing towns, so far as reported, is equally small; Booth Bay 227 barrels, 
North Haven 160, Wellfleet 140. Belfast 110, and New London 235. A 
Salem vessel has landed 307 barrels, and one Frankfort vessel is reported 
with a catch of 312 barrels and another with 620. Nineteen vessels re- 
ported at Port Mul grave show an average catch of 200 barrels." (Glouces- 
ter Telegraph, August 27.) 

1871. — Fall mackerel fishery in cape cod bay. 

Dennis. — On Wednesday a. m. (8th) the fishermen took 300 to 800 
mackerel each in nets. 

Barnstable. — Smith Bros, caught 1,200 yesterday (14th). — (Province- 
town Advertiser, November 15, 1871.) 

1871. — In the Cape Ann Advertiser, of July 28, are the following re- 
marks upon the mackerel fishery: 

"The mackerel season has now commenced in earnest, and good 
returns are anticipated, as the season bid's fair of being a prosperous 
one. The prospect at the bay is very encouraging, many of the fleet 



[319] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

having already landed good fares. American vessels are subject to the 
same treatment as last year, if caught fishing within the limits ; but 
they have liberty to shii^ mackerel home, and y)urchase sup])lies tliis 
season, which will greatly add to their chances of making a good year's 
work. 

'■'■ The skipiDers will undoubtedly keep a sharp lookout and give the 
Dominion cruisers a wide berth, and we do not anticipate any diflBculty 
in those waters at present. Later in the season, when the mackerel 
tend in shore, it may be a little more difficult to obtain a fare, but we 
do not believe that the Dominion cruisers intend to annoy American 
fishermen in the manner which characterized last season. 

"The treaty has not been signed by the Dominion Government as 
yet, consequently it will not take effect this season. It is evident that 
the price of mackerel will not rule as high as last year, which will tend 
to bring about quick sales, as people can afford to eat these fish when 
the price is brought within their means, and the prospect for a lively 
market is quite encouraging. 

'^Altogether, the mackerel season, both off shore and at the bay, prom 
ises well, and we hojie that good trips will crown the efforts of all en- 
gaged in this branch of the fislieries." — (Boston Journal, July 29.) 

1871. — EeMINISCENCES of C!APT. J. W. COLLINS. 

I was engaged in the halibut fishery during the season of 1871 until 
August, when I fitted out for a mackerel jcruise oft" the I^Tew England 
coast, still being the same vessel in which I had sailed the previous 
season. The mackerel were comparatively scarce in the fall off shore 
and disinclined to bite. We succeeded, however, in catching 175 bar- 
rels with hook and line, which was much better than the average for 
the time we were engaged. The last two days' fishing which we had 
were off Chatham. The first of the two days we caught 50 barrels be- 
tween Nausett and Chatham, and the following day we obtained 30 
wash-barrels more about 15 or 20 miles ESB. from Chatham Light. The 
fish at that time moved very rapidly in a southerly direction. 

Many of the seiners obtained large catches during the fall, but as we 
were fishing with hook and line it frequently happened that we could 
get few or no mackerel, even where they were most abundant, and the 
seiners were filling up. 

1872. — Good ltick of some of the market fisherivien. 

On Friday of last week the schooner "Yankee Lass," Captain Brown, 
took 60 barrels of mackerel off" the Highlands of Caj)e Cod, and sold 
them in Boston the next day for $1,500. A few weeks before the same 
vessel sold $1,200 worth, which she caught in a single day. Another 
vessel made $2,520 in a couple of days. In all these cases the market 
was bare of mackerel, and hence the high ]3rices obtained. The fore- 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [320] 

going fares were sold fresli witliout dressing. — (Gloucester Telegraph, 
October 12, 1872.) 

1872. — Mackerel fishery of provincetown. 

The Provincetown mackerel fleet, in the early part of last week, after 
a trial of two days witliout finding mackerel, broke in small squadrons 
and sought their home ports to haul up, or to engage in other i)ur8uits. 
It has hovered around Provincetown, and been in the harbor since 
August, taking bnt few fish. Inquiry at the packing establishments 
discloses the fact that the entire catch of that part of the fleet hailing 
from Provincetown will not much exceed 12,000 barrels. In 1870 the 
catch packed 37,552 barrels, and in 1871 it was 24,918 barrels. From 
information received, the opinion i)revails that the falling ofl" in the 
catch of the whole fleet will not be less than that part of it sailing from 
Provincetown. A very few vessels using seines have been successful, 
bnt those depending upon the hook and line, constituting much the 
largest part, will not, as a whole, realize a sum sulficient to pay ex- 
penses. — (Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph, May 31, 1874.) 

1872. — Mackerel on the south coast of nova scotia. 

H. S. Jost, esq., overseer for the western district of Lunenburg 
County, Nova Scotia, rex)orts that mackerel are of a better quality than 
those taken in 1871, and have generally been sent to the United States, 
where a fair price has been, obtained for them. The hitherto uncertain 
fares in the JS'orth Bay mackerel fishing has had the effect of causing 
most of the ISTova Scotia vessels to seek other employments this fall. — 
(Eeport of W. H. Venning, inspector of fisheries for Nova Scotia and 
New Brunswick. An. Eep. Mar. and Fish., 1872, Appendix N.) 

1872. — Disinclination of the Canadian fishermen to engage 
IN catching mackerel. 

Mackerel fishing is pursued only to a very limited extent in Gaspe Bay 
since the repeal of the reciprocity treaty, the few accidently caught in 
herring nets being used as bate for cod ; and even under reciprocity 
this kind of fishing was entirely in the hands of Americans, the Gaspe 
fishermen not catching the fish even for local consumption. For the 
space of about one month this summer mackerel was very abundant in 
Gaspe Bay, some catching as many as 1,700 in one day. Mackerel as 
well as salmon sold fresh, but prices being low, fishermen consideied 
it more advantageous to engage solely in the more remunerative pur- 
suit of cod-fishing. During September and October prices ruled higher, 
but mackerel had then left the bay. — (Eeport of N. Lavoie, commander 
of government schooner ^' La Canadienne," in a cruise in theEiver and 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 1872. An. Eep. Mar. and Fish. 1872, Ap- 
I)endix B.) 



f_321] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1872. — A BIG TRIP FROM GEORGE'S. 

Schooner " Volunteer," Captain Smith of this port, arrived from 
Creorge's on Friday with 340 barrels of mackerel, which were seined on 
the bank. This is the largest fare brought in this season, and the 
mackerel were all large and fat. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 16, 

1872.) 

1872. — A BIG SCHOOL OF MACKEREL — SUCCESS OF THE SEINERS. 

Schooner "Judith Ann," of this port, recently came across a big school 
of mackerel off Thatcher's Island, and had such a heavy draught of 
them that they were obliged to cut the purse-rope of the seine in order 
to save it. Out of the lot, estimated at 1,000 barrels, they succeeded 
in saving only 40 barrels. 

Several of the mackerel seiners had quite a streak o' luck last week, 
which will very materially help out their season's work. * * * 

Schooner " Isaac Somes," Capt. E. H. Taylor, was absent from Har- 
wich Port thirty hours, and during that time seined 250 barrels of mack- 
erel. This is reported as the largest catch in the shortest time this 
season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 13, 1872.) 

1872. — Reminiscences of capt. j. w. collins. 

In August, 1872, I went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on a mackerel 
trip in the " Alice G. Wonson." Mackerel were large though scarce, 
and as a result we cruised over nearly the whole of the fishing grounds 
in the Gulf from Bonaventure to Cape Breton. We did not succeed in 
obtaining any great catches, neither did we hear of many being taken. 
However, we secured a fare of 250 barrels of fine mackerel, for which 
a fair price was obtained, making the voyage, on the whole, a reason- 
ably profitable one. 

1873. — The passage of the fisheries bill — anticipation of its 

being injurious to AMERICAN FISHERMEN. 

The bill to carry into effect the fishery provisions of the treaty of 
Washington, passed the House Monday by an unexj)ectedly strong 
vote, 145 yeas and 30 nays. The only amendment, which was offered 
by Mr. Buffinton, delays the date on which the duties on fish from 
the provinces are removed until July 1, and was agreed to both by the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and by the State Department. General 
Butler opposed it, and denounced the treaty as very unfair to the United 
States. President Grant sent a special message to the Senate and 
House, in which he urged the passage of the bill. It will go into effect 
July 1. There are grave apprehensions that we have paid dearly for 
the whistle in the admission of foreign fish duty free ,- and the provinc- 
ial fishermen have thus obtained great advantages over the American, 
both on the lakes and sea-coast. Be that as it may, there is no help for 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEKIES. [3223 

it now, and ere the end of the present year we shall probably know 
whether or not we can catch and sell tish under the disadvantages of 
this treaty as cheaply as our neighbors in the provinces can with the 
great advantages it affords them.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, February 28^ 

1873.) 

1873. — Sailing of the first of the southern fleet. 

A portion of the southern mackereling fleet have sailed the i^resent 
week, and others will soon follow. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, April 18^ 
1873.) 

Two of the Newburyport schooners sailed on the 17th instant, for the 
south, on a mackereling cruise. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, April 25, 1873.) 

1873. — First arrival of fresh mackerel in nbW york market.. 

The first fresh mackerel of the season were carried into New York on 
Thursday (May 1) of last week, by a Chatham schooner. She had 
25,000, which were sold at 20 cents apiece. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 
9, 1873.) 

1873. — A BIG FIRST TRIP. 

Schooner " Fleetwing," of this port, carried into New York on Tues- 
day 52,000 fresh mackerel, which were sold for $2,657. — [Ih.) 

1873. — ^FlRST MACKEREL CAUGHT OFF CAPE ANN. 

May 20, schooner "Sea Foam" caught about 200 mackerel, which^ 
being the first catch of the season off Cape Ann, sold for 10 cents 
apiece. Last season the same vessel also brought in the first fiire of 
mackerel, having been fortunate in securing 120 barrels on the 22d of 
May, which sold for $2.50 per hundred. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 
23, 1873.) 

1873. — First arrival in Gloucester of the southern fleet. — 

GOOD prices. 

Schooner "Emma Jane" arrived home from the south on Thursday 
last (May 19) with 170 barrels of mackerel, which were sold for $9.25 and 
$7.25 per barrel. First arrival of the season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser^ 
May 30, 1873.) 

1873. — First start of the bay fleet. 

The first of the bay fleet sailed on Tuesday (June 3), and others will 
soon follow. Some 30 sail will be on their way by the middle of the 
month. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 6, 1873.) 

1873. — Spring mackerel fishery. 

The fishing season has fairly commenced in Long Island waters, in 
the Great South Bay, and the other bays on the south side. Large num- 



[323] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. \ 

beivs of bluefishj weakfisli, and mackerel are taken daily. On Friday 
and Saturday the fishermen found it impossible to dispose of their 
catches, and most of those who had loads of mackerel were obliged to 
cast anchor and salt them. On Friday the fishing company at Southold 
caught 100,000 at one haul. — (Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Tele- 
graph, Gloucester, Mass., May 31, 1873.) 

1873. — The southern mackerel fleet at Newport. 

One hundred and fifty sail of mackerel catchers put into Newport 
Harbor on the 5th instant, in consequence of thick weather. They re- 
port mackerel more plenty of late, the catch the previous days aver- 
aging about 25 barrels to a vessel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 13, 

1873.) 

1873. — The southern mackerel fishery. — prices. — the bay- 
fleet. 

The ISTewiJort southern mackereling fleet has been doing only fairly. 
The " Miantonomoh " has taken three fares of fresh mackerel, caught 
by seine, into New York, of 45,000 fish ; the " Lizzie Thompson" has 
taken there two fares of 13,000 fish, and the " G. W. Brown" has taken 
two fares of 25,000, making in all 83,000 fresh mackerel taken into New 
York by Newburyport vessels. One firm has received $2,000 for fresh 
mackerel sold, and has about the same amount to come. 

By the hook the schooner " Matilda " has caught 12,000, and the 
" John Gerard " 8,000, and these also have been carried into New 
York. 

The southern mackerel fleet, as a whole, have not done so well this 
season as last. A large proportion of the fleet have sold their mackerel 
fresh in New York, and some of the seiners have made good stocks j 
but the hookers have done very slim. Some fourteen sail have thus far 
arriv^ed home, averaging about 100 barrels. The market being bearer 
of old mackerel, the new stock have been in good demand, recent fares 
selling at $10.25 and $8.25 per barrel, with prospect of advance on these 
prices. A large fleet will visit the Bay of Saint Lawrence the j)resent 
season. The early fleet have already sailed, and by the 1st of July 
there will probably be a hundred vessels in readiness to start. The 
shore mackereling fleet will be smaller than that of last season, and 
comprised mostly of seiners. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 13, 1873.) 

1873. — The first fare from oeorg^e's. — a good haul. 

Schooner " Mary Odell," of this port, arrived from George's on Monday 
with 240 barrels of mackerel, the first fare from there this season. They 
lost most of the first haul they made in consequence of a shark going 
through the seine j ust. as they had commenced pailing out. After repair, 
ing the seine, they made another immense haul, filling all their barrels 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [324] 

and the dories, and let as many more go, being unable to take care of 
them. The mackerel were of large size and excellent quality, and the 
trip proved a j)rofitable one. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 18, 1873.) 

1873. — A GOOD STOCK IN THE SHORE FISHERY. 

Schooner " Isaac Somes," of Harwich Port, engaged in the shore mack- 
erel fishery, has stocked about $7,500 thus far this season, and is high 
line of the fleet from that port. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 25, L873.) 

1873. — Another big George's trip. 

Schooner "Eddie Pierce" arrived at Boston last week, from a three 
weeks' cruise, with 550 barrels of George's mackerel. She stocked $6,000 
for the trip — pretty good returns for a short voyage. — (Gape Ann Adver- 
tiser, August 8, 1873.) 

1873. — Shore and bay fisheries, prices, etc. 

The mackerel catch off this shore still continues light for the season. 
JSTineteen seiners have arrived since our last issue, five of which were 
from George's, and brought in good fares. The total catch for the past 
week has been about 2,500 barrels, which have been sold at $20 and 
$19 for No. I's; $12,75 and $13 for No. 2's. Schooner "Highflyer" 
arrived from the Bay of Saint Lawrence on Tuesday (August 5) — the first 
arrival of the season, and a week earlier than the first arrival last year. 
She brought in 225 barrels. Others of the fleet are on their way home, 
and daily expected. Two fares have been sent home per steamer. The 
quality of the mackerel taken at the bay early in the season is not as 
good as those taken off this shore, but those caught the past three weeks 
are said to be much fatter. — {lb.) 

1873. — The mackerel fleet of newburyport, past and present. 

The Newburyport Herald says: Our mackerel fleet, which numbered 
140 vessels forty years ago, is now reduced to about 20. — (Cape Ann 
-Advertiser, August 15, 1873.) 

1873. — Light catch in the bay. 

On July 29 there were in the harbor of Georgetown, Prince Edward 
Island, about 50 sail of American mackerel schooners. The highest 
catch reported among them was -200 barrels, and the average fares of 
the whole fleet was estimated at 150 barrels. The catch of mackerel in 
the Gulf of Saint Lawrence has, up to this time, been light. The fish ap- 
pear to be abundant, but do not bite freely. — {lb.) 

1873. — An old vessel makes a large stock in the shore 

mackerel fishery. 

Schooner "I. H. Horton," which recently arrived at J\^ellfleet from 
'George's, has caught and landed 1,402 barrels of mackerel, stocking 



[325] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

$14,023, having been employed two mouths and ten days. This is the 
largest stock made in the mackereling business from any port this sea- 
son. The schooner is twenty-three years old, and owned by Capt. I. H. 
Horton, of Eastham. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 22, 1873.) 

Schooner " I. H. Horton "has recently arrived from her fourth trij), with 
282 barrels of mackerel. The ^'Horton" has now landed 1,664 barrels, 
making her stock in three months $18,425. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Sep- 
tember 12, 1873.) 

1873. — Destructive gale in the gulf of saint lawrence. 

In the Cape Ann Advertiser of September 5, 1873, 36 Gloucester 
mackerel schooners were reported driven ashore in the hurricane of 
August 24 and 25, causing the loss of thirty -six lives. Besides these 
many vessels and lives were lost from other ports engaged in the mack- 
erel fishery of the Bay of Saint Lawrence. 

1873. — Scarcity of mackerel off new England coast. — arriv- 
als FROM BAY, HIGH PRICES, ETC. 

Mackerel still continue very scarce off this shore, and some of the 
seiners have abandoned the business and fitted away for the bay. With 
the exception of a haul by one of the Swampscott boats, and one by a 
Harwich schooner Saturday on Jeffries, there have been no mackerel 
seined off this shore the past week. One George's fare of 240 barrels 
arrived on Tuesday, which were quickly taken up at $23.50 per barrel 
for No. 1, the highest price obtained this season. No. 2 sold for $13. 

Six bay fares, about 1,200 barrels, have arrived the past week, which 
have met with quick sales, Ko. I's selling for $14.50 and $15 per barrel. 
The market was never so bare of mackerel at this season of the year, 
and the supply for the fall and winter trade bids fair to be a meager 
one. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 12, 1873.) 

1873. — A SCHOOL OFF CAPE COD. 

A school of mackerel struck the waters off Cape Cod last week. A 
Harwich schooner took 100 barrels, and other vessels shared in the good 
luck. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 31, 1873.) 

1873. — Arrival home of the bay fleet. 

The bay fleet have come in freely the past week, 63 vessels having 
arrived since our last issue, averaging good fares. This leaves about 
30 sail yet to come, most of which will be along before the close of 
another week. The vessels arrive on a dull market, and but few of the 
late fares have been sold, as holders are not desirous to sacrifice their 
mackerel at the prices at present offered, unless actually forced to do 
so. The stock in the market is held at $14 and $12 for Nos. 1 and 2,. 
which prices, if not higher, will no doubt be realized ere many weeks 
elapse. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, ISTovember 14, 1873.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [326] 

1873. — The gloucesteii mackerel fisheries. 

The southern fleet iu the spring was of usual size — embracing 54 
vessels — aiid fairly successful, marketing their early catch in New York 
a,t good prices. 

The summer fishery off the shores of Maine, New Hampshire, and 
Massachusetts was of respectable size, and mostly engaged in seining 
of mackerel, with a very good average success, although a few vessels 
did not pay expenses. Eighty-six vessels engaged in this business. 
.Schooners "Beloidem" and "Empire State" were lost in this business. 

The Bay of Saint Lawrence fleet was unusually large, consisting of 
185 vessels, against 60 last year. The catch was good, and the business 
would have proved quite successful but for the disastrous gale in August, 
Iby which so many vessels were wrecked or temporarily disabled in the 
heiiiht of the fishing season, materially reducing the receipts. Of the 
185 Gloucester vessels engaged in this fishery 10 were wrecked, and are 
total losses, and three remain ashore at the Magdalen Islands, but are 
not abandoned. Twenty-six vessels made two bay trips each during the 
season, and the whole number of fares received at Gloucester this season 
will be 198 against 65 last year. — (Gloucester Telegraph, November 
19, 1873.) 

1873. — REMmiSCENCES of CAPT. J. W. COLLINS. 

During the first part of 1873 I was engaged in the haddock and cod 
fisheries. About the 25th. of August I started from home on a macke- 
Tel trip to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, still being in the same vessel in 
which I had sailed the three previous years. We arrived in the bay 
soon after the first of September and immediately proceeded to the Mag 
dalens. There we had an opportunity of witnessing the great destruc- 
tion which had been wrought by the hurricane of the 24th and 25th of 
August. At the head of Pleasant Bay, and in Harbor Le Barre, some 
.20 or 25 sail of American mackerel schooners were driven high up on 
the sand ; many of them lying in such i>ositions as to render it ex- 
tremely doubtful if they could be again got afloat. Many vessels were 
also stranded on Prince Edward Island, some being lost with all hands, 
while the crews of others were fortuuate enough to escape. Some of 
these schooners we had an opportunity of seeing later on our trip. I 
have taken occasion to allude to this gale here, since it was one of the 
most disastrous which our mackerel fleet has ever encountered, result- 
ing in very great loss of life and property. The mackerel were scarce 
in the bay during the fall of 1873, and though mostly of a large size 
were not so fat as might be expected. We fished most of the time about 
the Magdalen Islands, visiting, however, other points of the bay more 
-or less frequently. We succeeded in obtaining a fare of 208 barrels, and 
..returned home about the middle of November. 



{327] history of the mackerel fishery. 

1874. — The southern mackerel fishing. — Light fares brought 

IN. 

Southern mackerel fleet are arriving boine, averaging light fares. The 
largest of the season, 300 barrels, was brought in by schooner " Falcon " 
on Wednesday, June 3 ; the trips will not average over 140 barrels. The 
business has been overdone this year. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 5, 
1874.) 

1874. — The spring mackerel fishery. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of June 12, 1874, states that during the 
past week twenty vessels belonging to the southern mackerel fleet had 
arrived with light fares, the average quantity being 100 barrels. 

1874. — Fishing in the gulp of maine. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of September 25, 1874, states that there 
are from eight to nine hundred mackerel vessels between Portland and 
Mount Desert; the catch is light. 

1874. — Successful George's trip. 

Schooner ^' Florence E. Tower," Captain Frye, arrived at Boston on 
Saturday (June 27), from a mackerel cruise to George's Bank. She 
brought in 450 barrels, the fare which has arrived at that port this 
season. * * Most of the fish were of good quality. Her trip this 
time was four weeks. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 3, 1874.) 

1874. — High line of the seining fleet. 

Capt. Hanson B. Joyce, of Swan's Island (Maine), is high line of the 
seining fle«t this season. Landed to 9th October 2,300 barrels of mack- 
erel, the largest number ever landed. A small craft of 52 tons still 
follows the trade, and may get another haul. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
October 16, 1874.) 

ANOTHER GOOD CATCH. 

Schooner "John Atwood," of Provincetown, had landed up to October 
9, 1874, 2,000 barrels mackerel. She took in all 2,100 barrels; was high 
line of the Provincetown fleet. — {lb.) 

LATE CATCH OF MACKEREL OFF CAPE COD. 

Schooner "Willie B. Wilbur" took with the hook 20 barrels of fine 
mackerel off Eace Point November 18, 1874. 

1874. — A QUICK TRIP. 

Schooner " Florence Nightingale" left Swampscott Monday morning, 
August 24, on a market fishing cruise and arrived in Boston the next 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [32 8 J 

morning, August 25, with 350 barrels of mackerel, worth at least $2,500 
— a good day's work. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 28, 1874.) 

ONE OE THE LUCKY VESSELS. 

Schooner " Daniel Masey," of Portsmouth, IsT. H., has landed 1,800 
barrels of mackerel up to August 25, and claims to be high line of the. 
fleet. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, September 11, 1874.) 

1875, — The first appearance of mackerel. 

One of the first mackerel fares caught by the mackerel fleet was taken 
April 29, 1875, by the schooner "Cora E. Smith," of Gloucester, and sold 
at New York for $15 per 100. 

On June 6 a Newburyport vessel arrived at New York with 25,0006 
mackerel. 

1875. — American vessels in the gulp of saint lawrence. 

The following statement of the number of fishing vessels in the Gulf 
of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery and the American shore mackerel 
fishery was submitted by David W. Low to the Halifax Commission : 

Mackerel inspected in Gloucester 93, 126' 

58 vessels in Gulf, average catch 191 barrels 11, 078 

117 vessels American shore, average catch 409 barrels 47, 853 

58, 931 

The average catch is based on the average catch of 84 vessels from 
17 firms in 1869, and 28 vessels in bay and 62 vessels off American 
shore from 20 firms in 1875. These firms have done better than the- 
rest. — (Docs, and Prbc. Halifax Cora., 1877, U. S. edition, p. 2595.) 

1875. — First mackerel of the season. 

The first catch of mackerel was brought to New York last week. The 
fish were of good size, but had not yet acquired that primeness and ex- 
cellence of savor which mackerel only acquire in colder waters. The 
fish were struck south of Cape Henry, and now some twenty smacks are- 
in search of the coming shoals. — (B. Phillips, in New York Times, May 
9, 1875.) 

1875. — Fishing in the gulf of maine. 

One vessel took 250 barrels of mackerel ofi" the point at Province- 
town, Saturday afternoon. — (Provincetown Advocate, October 6, 1875» 

1875. — Sailing of the southern fleet. 

A large part of the George's fleet have fitted out to go south, mack- 
ereling. 

Several of the south mackerel fleet have sailed, and the balance will 
follow in a few days. They will tend New York market, selling their 
fish fresh. — (Gloucester Telegraph, April 21, 1875.) 



[329] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

1875. — First pare of mackerel for the season — a big stock. 

To a Portland schooner, the " Georgie Willard," belongs the credit of 
landing the first fare of mackerel this season. The " Willard " arrived 
at New York on Friday (April 30) and landed her catch of 22,000 mack- 
erel, stocking over $4,000. 

1875. — The SIRRING fishery. 

The southern mackerel fleet are meeting with fair success. Last 
week, Monday, the schooners " Bell of the Bay," and "Bloomer" arrived 
at New York with 200 barrels each, and schooner " Eoger Williams '* 
with 700 barrels. The "Bell of the Bay" had been out eight days^ 
"Bloomer " forty-eight hours, and " E,. Williams " three days. On Wed 
nesday the "William S. Baker" (six days out) arrived with 220 barrels. 
The first vessel to arrive home with a southern mackerel fare was the 
" Pathfinder" (on Friday), with 280 barrels. Schooner "James A. Stet- 
son" arrived from a southern trip on Sunday, with 250 barrels of mack- 
erel. — (Gloucester Telegraph, May 26, 1875.) 

1875. — A GOOD CATCH AT NEWPORT. 

A fishing gang near Newport, Thursday, with a purse seine, passed it 
around a school of fish, supposing them to be menhaden. The result of 
their haul proved to be upwards of 14,000 mackerel, which were sold 
from 10 to 15 cents apiece. — (Gloucester Telegraph, June 9, 1875.) 

1875. — Small catch of mackerel in june. 

Only 53 mackerel arrivals were reported for the month of June, with 
a total catch of some 7,000 barrels, less than one-half of the receipts for 
the corresponding month last year. 

Mackerel, notwithstanding the lessened receipts, have sold at some 
two dollars less than last June. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 14, 1875.) 

1875. — Small bay fleet. 

The Gloucester bay fleet will be smaller this season than for many- 
years. — (Gloucester Telegraph, July 21, 1875.) 

1875. — Scarcity of mackerel off shore — big fleet on George's. 

The schooner " Mary B. Tower," from George's Bank, arrived at Bos- 
ton 28th ultimo, after an absence of thirty weeks, with 140 barrels of 
mackerel. She reports fish very scarce. Severel vessals had been out 
a month without taking anything worth reporting. Many of the ves- 
sels which had been cruising off the coast of Maine, finding no fish, -put 
off for the Banks. There were about 200 sail on George's on the 27tbi 
ultimo. — (Gloucester Telegraph, August 4, 1875.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [330] 

1875. — First arrival from the bay. 

One arrival has been reported from the Bay of Saint Lawrence the 
past week, the first of the season, with 241 barrels. — (Gloucester Tele- 
graph, September 1, 1875.) 

1875. — Scarcity of mackerel in the bay. — the fleet at the 

magdalbns. 

The Prince Edward Island Times reports no great catches of mack- 
erel this season about the island. The catch will not be above two- 
thirds of that of last year, but of superior quality. Eeports from all 
^quarters speak of a small catch. — {lb.) 

But few mackerel are taken. Nothing has been done at Bay Ohaleur 
or Gaspe. The American fleet iu the bay almost wholly surround Mag- 
dalen Islands. — (Gloucester Telegraph, September 16, 1875.) 

1875. — Arrival of the shore fleet. — small number of arri- 
vals FROM THE BAY. 

The mackerel fleet have mostly arrived from the eastern coast — 56 
having been reported last week — and are now engaged upon the Cape 
Cod shore, meeting with moderate success in the capture of small 
mackerel. One arrival has been reported from Bay Saint Lawrence, 
making three bay arrivals this season, against 31 arrivals up to Octo- 
ber 1 last year. The mackerel fleet were reported off Plymouth on Sat- 
urday, and on Sunday there were 100 sail on Middle Bank, apparently 
doing well. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 6, 1875. 

. 1875. — Mackerel passing cape cod. — a good haul. 

On Tuesday, the 5th instant, immense shoals of mackerel were seen 
passing down by Highland Light (Cape Cod), and were even so near 
shore that a stone might have been thrown among them from the beach. 
The schooner "Nellie T. Campbell" threw her seine around a school 
and scooped up many more barrels than she could handle, and after 
filling her decks full signaled to another vessel to come and take what 
remained in the net. — (Gloucester Telegraph, October 20, 1875.) 

1875. — A BIO HAUL AT NEWPORT. 

A school of large mackerel were reported off Newport last week, and 
125,000 in number, large ones, were seined on Tuesday. — (Gloucester 
Telegraph, November 3, 1875.) 

1875. — HlOH PRICE OF BAY MACKEREL. 

At Newburyport last week bay mackerel were sold from $24 to $26 
per barrel for choice mess; $17.50 to $18 for No. I's ; $14 to $16 for 

2's, and $9, $11, and $14 for No. 3's.— (J6.) 



[331] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1870 TO 1876, INCLUSIVE. — THE MACKEREL FISHERIES OF PROVINCE- 
TOWN, MASS. 

"Going back to 1870, we had that year 41 vessels engaged in n)ack- 
erel fisning, not one of which went into the Gulf. They all iished on 
our coast. The aggregate quantity of mackerel which they all jiacked 
was 37,552 barrels. In 1871 we had still 41 vessels, which still continued 
to fish on our coast, having done i^retty well there the year before. 
None went to the Gulf. The aggregate catch which these vessels packed 
amounted to 24,918 barrels. In 1872 we had 3(> vessels, of which 3 went 
to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, leaving 33 fishing on our own coast. 
These 30 vessels packed out 16,303 barrels, and the 3 vessels which 
went to the Gulf packed out 785 barrels, making an average per vessel 
of 261f barrels.. 

"In 1873, when the Washington treaty went into elfect, as we in- 
tended going to the bay, having now no fear of the cutters, we enlarged 
our bay fleet, and so 6 went there that year instead of 3. Two of these 
6, or one-third of them, were lost in the gale in which so many vessels 
were lost. The vessels lost were the schooner " Helen M. Woodward," 
off the Magdalen Islands — the vessel was a total loss — and the "Carrie 
P. Kich," oif North Cape, Prince Edward Island; vessel and crew total 
loss. 

"The latter went -to the bay early in tlie year, and she had shipped 
some mackerel home before the gale took place. She was lost, with all 
she had on board. The whole catch of these six vessels that year was 
845 barrels. In 1873 we had 38 vessels, and their total catch was 15,772 
barrels, including the 845 barrels mentioned. In 1874 we had 35 ves- 
sels engaged in the mackerel fishery, and they packed out 23,098 bar- 
rels. Three vessels went to the Gulf, bringing home 590 barrels, which 
are included in the total catch of the 35 vessels, 23,098. In 1875 we 
had 37 vessels, which packed out 10,613 barrels. Two of them went to 
the Gulf, and they brought home 270 barrels, which are included in the 
gross amount stated. 

, " In 1876 we had 32 vessels, whose total catch was 16,150 barrels. Two 
of them went to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, bringing home 202 barrels, 
which are included in the 16,150. These totals make a grand total of 
144,406 barrels, of which 2,692 were caught in the Gulf of Saint Law- 
rence in 16 voyages during the several years I have named. The aver- 
age catch of these vessels since 1872, and since the fishery clause of the 
Washington treaty went into effect, was 146^- barrels per vessel, and 
prior to that the average was 261^ barrels per vessel, in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence." — (Statement of Captain Atwood before the Halifax 
Commission.) 

1876. — The southern fleet. 

About 90 Gloucester and Cape Cod schooners, employed in the mack- 
erel fishery, were reported off Lewes, Del., on Thursday of Last week. — 
v(Cape Ann Advertiser, May 12, 1876.) 



eeport of commissioner of fish and fisheries [332][ 

1876. — First American vessels in the bay. — failure of spring 
mackerel at the magdalens. 

The first American mackerelmen in the bay arrived at Port Mulgrave 
[Oanso] on the 13th instant. The first Gloucester schooner in the bay^ 
the General Grant, arrived the next day. 

Advices from Magdalen Islands on Monday report net macterel fish- 
ing a failure. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 23, 1876.) 

1876. — A SCHOOL OP MACKEREL IN THE EEL GRASS. 

A school of mackerel became entangled in the eel grass in Ohauncy's 
Creek, near Portsmouth, the other day, and about 30 barrels were taken 
by hand. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 4, 1876.) 

SUCCESS OF A GLOUCESTER SCHOONER IN THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Schooner "Argonaut," Capt. E. A, Horton, landed from May 15 to 
July 21, 1876, 825 barrels of mackerel. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, July 21,, 

1876.) 

1876. — Extinction of the hingham mackerel fishery. 

Mackerel fishery at Hingham, Mass., once gave employment to 65 
vessels ; now extinct. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, January 28, 1876.) 

1876. — Mackerel fishery in Massachusetts bay. 

The Swampscott shore fleet, uj) to the 5th of June, was said to have 
had success. The best day's catch landed was 1,000 barrels ; this amount 
of course refers to the catch of the whole fleet. 

1876. — The mackerel fishery in the gulf of saint lawrence. 

The first American mackerel vessels arrived at Port Mulgrave June 
13, 1876; one from Boston, and one from Booth Bay. The first Glou- 
cester vessel arrived on the 14th. A fair catch of mackerel was reported 
at Canso ; on the 16th of June mackerel were reported on both sides of 
the Gulf. 

1876. — The southern mackerel fleet. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser of June 19, 1876, remarks: "The southern 
mackerel fleet have met with good success of late, and a large fleet have 
arrived the present week, bringing fares of 200 to 400 barrels. There 
has been a reduction in price." 

1876. — The gulf mackerel fishery. 

The Halifax Chronicle states that in 1874 there were 74 vessels en 
gaged in the mackerel fishery from that city. 



[333] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

In the Gulf of Saiut Lawrence, in 1876, the schooner " Samuel Davis," 
of Halifax, was high line, having landed 282 barrels of sea-packed mack- 
erel. 

187G. — The spring mackerel fishery. 

Thirteen vessels of the Gloucester fleet were at Lewes, Del., April 22. 
At the same place, May 4, there were 90 vessels from Cape Cod and 
Gloucester. The Cape Ann Advertiser, of May 19, announced that the 
earliest sales, amountino- to about 400 barrels, brought $4 a barrel in 
New York; the catch so far having been very light. 

1876. — Fall mackerel fishery. 

Eleven hundred and eighty-live barrels of mackerel were landed at 
Boston September 25 ; 700 barrels September 27 5 1,200 barrels Septem- 
ber 29. They were chiefly taken off Minot's Ledge, and sold at 12 to 
14 cents for large, 3 to 4 cents for clinchers, and 1^ cents for blunts. 

An enormous school a mile long and half a mile wide was struck by 
fishing boats off New London, October 30, and though many of the nets 
had to be cut, because of the excessive weight of fish, 300,000 fish, worth 
$10,000, were taken. 

A gang from Wilcox's fish- works at Quiambog surrounded off Watch 
Hill, September 29, what they supposed to be a large school of men- 
haden. When the net was hauled they proved to be mackerel ; 120,000 
of them were No. I's ; they weighed from 1^ pounds to 3 pounds each, 
and, at 5 cents apiece, were worth over $5,000. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
October 6, 1876.) 

Smith & Horton, of Bastham, caught about 2,000 barrels of mackerel 
in their weirs Friday, November 3. They were large fish. One hun- 
dred and twenty-five cart-loads were taken out, still leaving many more 
to be secured. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, November 10, 1876.) 

Mackerel plenty November 13-14 at Vineyard Haven. Small boats 
have been catching them for two or three days. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, 
November 17, 1876.) 

1876. — Big trips of new England vessels. 

Schooner "Daniel Marcy," Capt. Abraham Cahoon, jr., of Harwich, ar- 
rived at Portsmouth 1st September, 1876, with 410 barrels mackerel, 
making total catch for the season 1,500 barrels. Captain C. claims to 
have been high line for 15 years. 

Schooner " Alice," of Swan's Island, packed out 2,700 barrels of mack- 
erel this year, and made another haul of 300 barrels, giving her a catch 
of 3,000 barrels for the season. She claims to have beaten the " Mary 
Odell," of Gloucester, and to stand high line in the New England fleet. 

Schooner "Eebecca M. Atwood," of Portland, has landed over 2,600 
barrels at her home port this season. 

Schooner "Mary Odell," Capt. Geo. McLean, made a large haul of fat 
mackerel in Barnstable Bay last week, taking from her seine 300 bar- 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [334] 

Teis, which were all that her crew could handle, besides giving away 
110 barrels to the crew of a Boston schooner, and losing several hun- 
dred barrels through a break in the seine. She had already landed 
2,200 barrels, stocking'l 11,000 net (the crew sharing $436.90 each), up 
to September 22, and the next week landed two fares, one of 200 or 300 
barrels; during the past week she has laade two trips into Boston. 
Her stock for the season is probably double that of tRe schooner 
''Alice." — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 6, 1876,) 

1877. — The spring fishery. — arrivals of fresh mackerel in 

NEW YORK. 

The early arrivals at New York the middle of last week landed good 
fares, and prices were good considering the almost simultaneous arri- 
vals of nine vessels on Thursday and Friday. The schooner "Mary 
Odell" was the first to arrive, followed closely by the schooner "Seth 
Stockbridge" with 35,000 mackerel in number. The schooner "Mada- 
waska Maid " came next with 180 barrels, and the rest of the fleet had 
from 100 to 150 barrels each. The market opened with sales of large 
mackerel at 12 to 15 cents, but soon fell to 10 cents for extra large, 8 
cents for large, 5 cents for tinkers, and 3J cents for flinks. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, May 4, 1877.) 

1877. — A NOVA SCOTIA SCHOONER BOUND SOUTH FOR MACKEREL. — 

THE TABLES TURNED. 

Now that our Bay of Saint Lawrence fleet has dwindled to compara- 
tive insignificance, and no longer throw the bait that keep the waters 
swarming with mackerel, it looks as if the Nova Scotia fishermen would 
have to resort to American waters for a catch. One provincial vessel 
was in port a few weeks since bound south in pursuit of mackerel. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, May 25, 1877.) 

1877. — A GOOD CATCH IN NOVA SCOTIA WEIRS. 

A good mackerel catch is rei)orted along the western shore of Shel- 
burne County, N. S. Some traps have taken over 1,000 barrels, and all 
others are doing well. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 29, 1877.) 

1877. — A LUCKY HAUL AT FrOVINCETOWN. 

The keeper of Wood End Light, with the assistance of his wife, seined 
4,500 mackerel the other day, which sold for $150. — (/&.) 

1877. — A LARGE CATCH IN A CAPE COD WEI. 

The Yarmouth Herald reports that upwards of 1,400 barrels of mack- 
erel have been taken from the Sandford fish-trap this season ; value not 
far from $7,000.— (Cape Ann Advertiser. July 20, 1877.) 



[335] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1877. — Doings of the shore fleet. — small catch. 

The Boston Fish Bureau reports the catch of the shore fleet to Au- 
gust 1 at 34,657 barrels, against 113,246 barrels at the same time last 
year. The July catch was 6,614 barrels, against 81,103 in July, 1876. 
The reports from the fleet continue unfavorable, nothing being done 
except in the neighborhood of Block Island. The vessels there are re- 
ported with fares ranging from 25 to 160 barrels each. The schooner 
"Alice," of Boston, arrived at that port Wednesday, with 170 barrels large 
mackerel, caught off Block Island, the result of four weeks' fislhing. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, August 3, 1877.) 

1877. — A BIG CATCH OF MACKEREL ON THE NOVA SCOTIA SHORE. 

The Halifax Herald reports a mackerel strike in the vicinity of that 
city. At Tom's Bay the boats landed over 300 barrels, which will aver- 
age No. 2. At Upper Prospect the catch averaged from 30 to 300 bar- 
rels to a seine, over 1,000 barrels being taken the first day after the 
fish struck in. The reports from all the coves in the vicinity were en- 
couraging. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 17, 1877.) 

1877. — Small catches of the mackerelmen. 

The prospects of the mackerel fleet do not brighten. Out of 18 ar- 
rivals from ofi' shore the past week the only fares worth mentioning are 
125 barrels in the "Argonaut," caught off Block Island, and 75 barrels 
in the " Volunteer," the rest of the fleet realizing less on a two or three 
weeks' trip than isoftentheresult of a half hour's good fishing. The news 
from the bay is not of an encouraging character. There have been six 
arrivals at this port to date this season, with an average of about 200 
barrels each, which does not give the prospect for the rest of the fleet 
a flattering aspect. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 31, 1877.) 

1877. — Failure of the bay mackerel fishery. — the fare of 

THE high line OF THE BAY FLEET COST MORE THAN IT CAME 
TO. 

Kecent arrivals from the Bay of Saint Lawrence report the mackerel 
fishery a failure there, as well as on our own shores, and some of the 
vessels had not seen a mackerel for a fortnight before leaving the bay. 
The vessels already arrived, representing the portion of the fleet meet- 
ing with the best success, report an average catch of 183 barrels, which 
would not be more than half a fare in ordinary seasons, and will not 
pay the expenses of the voyage, even at the present high prices. Un- 
less the majority of the fleet still remaining in the bay find better fish- 
ing this month, which is not deemed probable, most of the vessels will 
be obliged to return empty, and the mackerel fishery will prove a 
lamentable failure this season. 

The masters of the vessels returning from the Bay of Saint Lawrence 
agree in the opinion that the mackerel have left the bay. and that the 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [336] 

fall fishery will be a failure. The schooner " Cayenne " is high line of the 
fleet, and of her fare of 320 barrels sea-packed mackerel, only 45 bar- 
rels were caught within t'he three-mile limits. The vessel was chartered, 
and for two months the charter ^as $450 ; the use of seines and boats 
was $300 more, and the outfit of provisions; &c., $450 ; the crew were 
on shares, but, at the rates paid those hired by the month, their wages 
would amount to $960; to this add the captain's wages, $150; insur- 
ance on seines and boats, $30; salt used, $140; bait, $162.50; and ex- 
penses of barrels, packing, &c., $525, and we have a total expense of 
$3,117.50. The fare packed out 300 barrels, which sold for $2,845, 
leaving a net loss on the trip of $272.50. With such a record for the high 
line it will be readily seen that the failure of the majority of the fleet to 
secure fares will entail a serious loss upon this industry. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, September 7, 1877.) 

1877. — Slim doings of the mackerel fleet. — the high liners. 

The shore mackereling fleet continue in the neighborhood of Cape 

Cod, meeting with indifferent success, and it becomes more and more 

apparent that the mackerel stock for 1877 will be the smallest known for 

years. Scarcely a vessel employed in this business will pay expenses. 

* * * The schooner "Alice," of Swan's Island, is high line of the 

mackerel fleet, having caught rising 1,400 barrels this season. The new 

schooner "William M. Gaflney" has made the best stock, her catch 

having realized about $10,000 since she came from the stocks, April 
j^g^ * * * 

The bay fleet report no catch of consequence since the sale a month ago. 
The prospect is that many of the vessels will be compelled to come home 
with very light fares. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, October 26, 1877.) 

1877. — Unprofitableness of the mace:erel fishery in the gulp 
of saint lawrence from 1873 to 1877. 

The Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery to the G-loucester fleet 
has been a growing failure for many years, both in the number of ves- 
sels prosecuting it and in their catch. Excej^tional trips have been made 
at a profit, yet the average vessel has prosecuted it yearly with consid- 
erable loss. 

In proof of which, take an average bayman for an average season's 
fishing. Her expense account will average at least $2,600 (without 
charging interest on vessel and outfits, or for depreciation on hull, or 
any partial loss not covered by insurance). She must catch 400 barrels 
of packed mackerel, worth an average price of $13 i>er barrel, to pay 
her expenses. Any less number of barrels than 400 would only lessen 
the amount of her bills by the salt not used. The packing of a less num- 
ber of barrels and the master's commission on decreased amount of stock, 
the wear of the sails, rigging, cables, &c., would be the same; the crew 
must be fed ; the bait would be used in trying for fish ; so that any one 



[337] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

can estimate the loss to au average vessel whose catch or its value varies 
from the above estimate. 

Of 19 firms, including those that have been most successi'ul in the Bay 
of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery, with 81 vessels employed hi that 
fishery in 1873, their average catch was 283 bnrrels to each vessel. In 
1871, with 46 vessels, 358 barrels was the average ; in 1875, with 20 ves- 
sels, 195 barrels was the average ; in 1876, with 17 vessels, 124 barrels 
was the average; in 1877, induced by the encouraging reports sent from 
the Straits of Canso and other places, the fleet to the bay from the same 
firms was increased to 28 vessels, with still more disastrous results, the 
catch of those that have arrived or been heard from being far below 
that of last year, proving now to a certainty that the prosecution of the 
mackerel fishery in the Gulf of Saiut Lawrence by American vessels is 
a complete and utter failure. 

The same firms, during the above years, with 55 vessels employed on 
the American shore, in 1873 averaged a catch of 350 packed barrels of 
mackerel each ; in 1874, 63 vessels averaged 554 barrels ; in 1875, 54 ves- 
sels averaged 381 barrels ; in 1876, 57 vessels averaged 674 barrels. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, November 2, 1877.) 

1877. — Large schools of mackerel seen off the new England 

COAST. 

The largest school Captain Harding ever surrounded and kept with 
his seine amounted to 300 barrels. In 1877 he lost a school off York, 
Me., which filled his net full. He saw a school oft' Block Island in 1877 
which he estimated to contain 1,000,000 barrels. He could see onlj' one 
edge of it at a time. 

1877. — Mackerel fishery in cape cod bay. 

Mackerel struck last week in unusual abundance. The like has not 
been known for years. The day will be remembered as "mackerel 
day" for a good many years. — (Provincetovvn Banner, July 18, 1877.) 

1878.-^Mackerel fishery of new England. 

Mackerel fishery''. — The Bay of Saint Lawrence n^ackerel fishery 
by the American fleet opened last year June 7, when the first vessel ar- 
rived, and closed November 30, when the last vessel sailed for hone. 
The whole number of vessels in the bay was 273, of which 125 or 42f 
per cent, were from Gloucester. Wellfleet sent 29; Portland 15; Bos- 
ton 24; Booth Bay 12; Newburyport 10; Swan's Island 8; Province- 
town 8; Eockport, Deer Isle, North Haven, Southport, and Bremen, 5 
each; Camden and Cohasset, 3 each; Salem, Eockland, and Dennis 
Port, 2 each; Dauversport, Essex, Harwich, Brooklin, Orleans, Truro, 
Belfast, Sedgwick, Hingham, Swampscott, Portsmouth, Viualhaven, 
New London, Bristol, and Perth Amboy, 1 each. Of the Gloucester 
fleet, 118 vessels are reported to have taken 28,847 barrels. Of these 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [')38] 

8,735 barrels, of a value of $30,725, were caught within the three-mile 
line. Taking this as a basis, and the American catch in the bay last 
year was 06,749 barrels of mackerel, of which 20,202 barrels, of a value 
of $84,848, were taken within the three-mile line, for which latter priv- 
ilege we have paid $450,000 in cash (without including interest), and 
probably as much more in remission of duties. — ( Provincetown Banner, 
January 30, 1879.) 

1878.— Notes on the mackerel fishery. 

The southern mackerel fishery. — The fish dealers of Boston are 
exercised over the early catch of mackerel, which they think diminishes 
the later supply and aftects the market unfavorably. It would be diffi- 
cult to prove that the catch or market are iniiuenced either by the early 
fishery, or by the use of seines, as many contend. The demand for the 
first fresh mackerel of the season gives the business promise of success, 
and the quantity j)acked is not likely to interfere with the sale of the 
small stock of better quality fish remaining on the market from last 
year's catch. The Southern mackerel fishery will be followed by the 
usual fleet as the season advances. Quite a number of vessels are fit- 
ting away, and the "Moses Adams," Captain Jacobs, the pioneer of the 
fleet, sailed for the South Saturday. Schooners "Seth Stockbridge," 
"Crest of the Wave," "Smuggler," "Ada E. Terry," "Lizzie," and "Na- 
mari," have sailed the present week. Others are busy fitting out. The- 
fleet will comprise some 60 sail. 

The first southern mackerel caught last year was by the schooner 
"Seth Stockbridge," Capt. James Anderson, who arrived in i^ew York, 
April 25, with 35,000 in number. The mild winter gives promise that 
the first catch this year will be somewhat earlier. — (Cape Ann Bulletin, 
March 20, 1878.) 

1878. — Arrival of mackerel on georoe's bank. 

Mackerel appeared on George's Bank about the 1st of June. The 
Cape Ann Advertiser of June 7 states that twelve barrels caught there 
were received at Edgartown the previous week. 

1878.— Spring mackerel fishery. 

There were about one hundred and fifty sail of mackerel catchers at 
Newport on Thursday week, and the "high line" was 150 barrels. — 
{Cape Ann Advertiser, May JO, 1878.) 

1878. — The earliest catch of mackerel. 

The schooner " Lilian," of Noank, Captain Latham, took 40 barrels small 
and lar'ge mackerel oft' Chincoteague March 30. This was the first 
catch of the season and the earliest ever known on our own coast, ex- 
cept in 1831. 



[339] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

1879. — Fall, fishery of cafe cod bay. 

Mackerel were abundant in Pro vincetown Harbor on November 22, 
1879; one boat caugbt 1,400 in set-nets. — (J. H. Blake, Cambridge, 
Mass.) 

1879. — Shore fishery in cape cod bay. 

A large school of mackerel came into our bay last week, and many of 
the vessels get good hauls with their seines, from 120 to 100 barrels; 
besides that, some of the hook fishermen got from 10 to 30 barrels. 
They were caught along the Plymouth shore, and from that northward 
close in to the land. For some days past the wind has been blowing 
too strong for fishing. A few mackerel are being taken here in gill-nets 
by our shore fishermen. Some of the fishermen that set bluefish nets 
got from 60 to 90 large fat bluefish to a man. — (Letter of N. E. Atwood, 
October 27, 1879.) 

Notes on the shore mackerel fishery of 1878. 

The first maclcerel of the season.- — Three weelcs earlier than last year. — 
The schooner "Lillian" arrived at Lewes on Friday, from a southern 
mackerel cruise, with ten barrels of fresh mackerel, the first of the sea- 
son. They found a ready sale at 20 cents each for large, 15 cents for 
medium, and 10 cents for tinkers. The first arrival last year was the 
schooner " Seth Stockbridge" of this port, April 25, with 35,000 in num- 
ber. 

The "Lillian" belongs in Noank, Conn., a small port near New Lon- 
don, and sailed March 12th. She reports seeing a good many tinkers, 
but there was a rough sea and high winds at the time. The mackerel 
caught by the "Lillian" were mostly small and were sent to New York 
from Lewes, Del., by steamer, in water. There have been no other re- 
ceipts at New York or elsewhere so far as reported. — (Cape Ann Bulle- 
tin, April 6. 1878.) 

The mackerel fishery. — The early appearance of mackerel this 
season, and the fact that they are already of quite good size and quality, 
give promise of a successful shore catch, but it is already evident that 
l^rices haust rule low in order to compete with the present low prices of 
all sorts of provisions. Last year the first receipts of fresh mackerel 
were April 25, and the first receipts of salt mackerel May 4. This year 
there were fresh mackerel on the New York market April 5, a few being 
taken off the Delaware coast and forwarded by steamer, and*the first fare 
received arrived on the 12th, quickly followed by others, so that within 
a day or two tliere were two thousand "wash-barrels" on the market. 
The first receipt of new salt mackerel this season was April 22d, and 
during the [last] week 500 barrels were landed at New York, 450 at Har- 
wich, and about 25 at Boston. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, May 3, 1878.) 

New fishing enterprise. — The schooner "Notice," of this port, 
owned in part and commanded by Cax)t. Kuud Markurson, cleared on 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [340] 

Monday for an experimental fisbinj? trii) on the coast of Norway. Cap- 
tain Markurson is familiar with the iishing grounds of the North Sea and 
with our improved methods of mjickerel fishing, which ought to give him 
success in a field where the operations have heretofore been confined to 
old-time methods. He tabes out a crew of twelve experienced men and 
will doubtless dispose of his catch in European markets. The " Notice" 
is a fine vessel of 66.50 tons burden, Gloucester built, nine years old, and 
thoroughly fitted for mackereling. This voyage is the fulfillment of an 
old project, which was first broached eighteen years ago, when the mack- 
erel fishery of New England was at a low ebb, but Captain Markurson 
is the first to overcome the dilficulties surrounding such an undertaking 
and to make the venture. The present time seems a favorable one for 
the experiment, and we wish the enterprising master and crew abund- 
ant success in striking out in this new field of industry. — Ca^pe Ann 
Advertiser. — (St. John's Chronicle, May 17, 1878.) 

]MlGEATIO]MS. — THE PROSPECT OF MACKEREL IN THE BAY. — A gen- 
tleman from Halifax informs us that a pilot of twenty-five years' expe- 
rience on the Nova Scotian shore, states that he never saw such a 
large body of mackerel off that coast as he has seen tliis season. They 
were en route for the bay, and there ought to be a good catch there this 
season. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 21, 1878.) 

The bat fleet. — The first installment of the Bay of Saint Law- 
rence fleet have about com[)leted their preparations, and quite a number 
of the fleet have already sailed. The prospect for mackerel in this re- 
gion is said to be much better than in the last few years, a large body 
being reported as passing Nova Scotia on their way thither. The fleet 
will go prepared to fish with either seines or hand-lines, and it is hoped 
that their efforts to secure large fares will prove successful. — (Cape Ann 
Bulletin, June 26, 1878.) 

1878. — Notes on the mackerel fisheries in the gulf of saint 
lawrence, and off j-he new england coast. 

Late advices from the bay report schooner " Jacob Bacon" high line of 
the fleet, 225 barrels mackerel, schooner "Eatler" coming next with 125 
barrels, and a few other fares ranging from 40 to 80 barrels. The 
" Charles Haf^kell" left the bay after three (lays' unsuccessful fishing, and 
]iicked up a fare of 100 barrels shore tinkers on the way home, where 
she arrived Monday. The "C. B. Manning" arrived from a shore trip 
Tuesday with 80 barrels of inferior quality. Schooner "Smuggler" ar- 
rived yesterday with 130 barrels small mackerel. The only large mack- 
erel landed here were taken by schooner " Mary Odell " a few days ago, on 
the Block Island fishing grounds. She brought in a fare of 25 barrels 
mixed mackerel, of which 15 barrels were extra I's, and sold at a fancy 
price. The whole number of mackerel arrivals for the week has been 
9, but there have been no other fares of consequence. — (Cajje Ann Ad- 
vertiser, July 19, 1878.) 



[341] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

The bay fleet.— ,pChe scbooner ''jacob Bacon" of this port, Caj^t. 
Williaiii Gray, employed in tbe Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel iisliery, 
has shipi>ed home by steamer to Boston, from Port Hawlcesbury, 222 
barrels good mackereJ. A few otlier vessels are lejDorted with fares 
from 200 to 300 barrels, of good qnality, and the prospect is considered 
more favorable than heretofore this season. — (Gape Ann Advertiser, 
July 26, 1S78.) 

Schooner "Golden Hind" arrived from a Bay Saint Lawrence trip oa 
Wednesday, being the second arrival of the season, but there are oth- 
ers on the way, to arrive in a day or two, The later reports from the 
bay indicate an improvement in quality and catch, and it is not too late 
to hope for profitable returns before the season closes. The weather has 
been rough of late, and unfavorable for fishing, but some good fares are 
reported. The " Golden Hind " brought 280 barrels mackerel, 100 barrels • 
of which were taken at one haul of the seine off North Cape. 

The shore mackerel fleet continne to meet with ill success, and there 
is little hope for imj^rovement until the mackerel turn southward in the 
fall. The number of arrivals the past week has been 12 and the receipts 
some 500 barrels. There is a fair stock on the market, but the call for 
inferior grades is light. 

1878. — Movements of the fishi^tg- fleet. 

Schooner " Da\id F. Low," Captain Chisholm, arrived home fiova the 
Bay of Saint Lawrence on Wednesday, with a fare of 200 barrels good . 
mackerel, being the first arrival and first receipts of bay mackerel 
at this port this season. Two other vessels fitted for the bay arrived 
home before tl^e " Low," but neither of them stopped to make a trip, 
although one secured 19 barrels before leaving to make up a fare of 
shore mackerel on the way home. One fare of bay mackerel was re- 
ceived at Boston, last week, by steamer, sent home by schooner "Jacob 
Bacon," and sold without culling or packing, averaging about 187 
pounds to the sea barrel, at $9 per barrel, which would be equivalent 
to about $11 packed. The first arrival at this port from the bay, last 
year, was tbe schooner "Eastern Queen," August 15. 

The shore mackerel fleet have abandoned the Block Island grounds, 
having made a much smaller catch there than last year. There v.ere 
some sixty sail engaged in the business, and most of them secured from 
3 to 20 barrels of extra large mackerel, which brought about $26 the 
barrel. The fleet continue to bring in moderate fares of tinker mack- 
erel, and there are about 1,000 barrels on the market, for which there is 
little demand. ITumber of shore arrivals the past week, 12 ; receipts, 
1,550 barrels. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 2, 1878.) 

The arrivals for (he past week have given a njore hopeful aspect 
to the fishing outlook, and our wharves have presented the busy ap- 
pearance which characterized them in more prosperous season. The 
arrivals have not been numerous, numbering 56 in all, but some 

f 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [342] 

very j^^ood fares Lave been landed iu the several departments of 
fishing followed by Gloncester vessels. The receij^ts of bay mack- 
erel, 1,400 barrels, fill a want that has long been felt, and indicate a 
much better j)rospect for successful ventures in this line than was antici- 
pated a few weeks ago. There have been 5 bay arrivals, the schooner 
'•Eileu M. Adams" being high line, with rising 400 barrels of good qual- 
ity, and the ' ■ Ealph E. Eaton " coming next about 300 barrels. The shore 
fleet continue to report a scarcity of large mackerel, though a few 2's and 
and large 3's, are culled from most of the trips. The number of arrivals 
for the week has been 6, and the receipts about COO barrels. Schooner 
"Joseph Garland" brought in a tare of 240 barrels, the "Fleetwing" 190, 
the other fares being in moderate amounts. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, Au- 
gust IG, 1878.) 

Fish of all kinds have been in fair receipt the past week, but the 
market continues firm except in mackerel, which are somewhat unset- 
tled, though *no concessions have been made from the inside rates quoted 
last week. The receipt of 12,000 barrels Provincial-canght mackerel 
at Boston last week went far to supply present demands, but there is 
no considerable accumulation of stock on this market. The number of 
bay arrivals for the week has been 9, bringing 2,800 barrels, and 624 
barrels have been received by freighters. Shore arrivals 6, with a catch 
of G50 barrels.^ — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 30, 1878.) 

1878.— Small catches of mackerel at block island and in 
the gulf of saint lawrence. 

The jmackerel fishery. — A large mackerel fleet, including a num- 
ber of Gloucester vessels, put into Newport harbor oi* Saturday, and 
report the catch of mackerel very light, in some instances scarcelj^ suffi- 
cient to feed the crew. The fleet sailed again on Monday. 

There is no news of especial encouragement from the bay fleet. 
Mackerel i)ut in an appearance there several weeks earlier than usual, 
and the boat and net fishermen met with good success for awhile, but 
the capricious fish seem to have abandoned their old haunts before the 
arrival of the American fleet. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 28, 1878.) 

1878. — First arrival of mackekel in boston. 

Schooner "Ellen M. Adams," of the southern mackerel fleet, arrived in 
Boston yesterday' afternoon with 70 barrels of mackerel, which is the 
first arrival of the season at that port. — (Cape Ann Bulletin, Wednes- 
day, April 24, 1878.) 

1878. — First arrival of mackerel at Gloucester. 

The schooner "Marion Grimes" arrived home from a southern mack- 
erel-trip, on Wednesday, with about 250 barrels of mackerel, being the 
first of the fleet to arrive at this port. Her catch was of good quality, 



[343] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

running nearh^ all large 3's, and was sold immediately upon her arrival 
at $5.o0 per barrel, with barrel, out of pickle. — (Cape Aun Advertiser, 
May 10, 1878.) 

3878. — First pare op presh mackerel at Portland por the 

SEASON. 

The first fare of fresh mackerel at Portland, 60 barrels, received last 
week, retailed at Scents i)er dozen. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, June 7, 

1878.) 

1878. — The mackerel pishery in the gulf op saint lawrence. 

The bay mackerel fleet. — Our correspondent at Port Mulgrave 
writes as follows under date ot last Saturday : 

We have had very stormj' weather of late in the North Bay, and the 
mackerel fleet has done nothing since the 15th. Late arrivals report 
the prospect good with the hook, but the mackerel do not school lately. 
The arrivals at the several stopping places hereabouts, since the 15th, 
have been as follows : 

Gloucester— '-Bloomei;^^ 70 barrels; '^Cora E. Smith," 250; "Choco- 
rua,"l'o5; "Commonwealth," 430 ; "Jacob Bacon," 278. 

Boston—'' M. B. Tower," 400. 

WcUfleet—'' Gertvnde Summers," 345 ; " Merrimac," 307 ; "Nellie M. 
Snow," 365; "Sarah E. Smith," 30G. 

Harwich — "Nettie Moore," second trip. 

Cohasset—'' Katie Hall," 300. 

Siccm's l6'/aHrf— "Augusta E. Herrick," 478; "Alice," 715; "Queen 
of the West," 270. 

Boothhmj—^' Alice C. Fox," 275 ; "E. K. Dresser," 320. 

Portland — " Yenelia," 336. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, August 30, 1878.) 

1878. — Eeview of the mackerel fishery of the gulp of saint 

lawrence. 

The Cape Ann Advertiser gives the following review of the Bay of 
Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery during 1878: 

The Bay of Saint Lawrence mackerel fishery by the American fleet, 
last .year, opened June 7, when the first vessel arrived, and closed No- 
vember 30, when the last of the fleet sailed for home. The whole number 
of vessels visiting the bay was 273, of which 125 or 45f per ct nt. were 
from Gloucester ; Wellfleet sent 29, Portland 15, Boston 14, Booth Bay 
12, Newport 10, Swan's Island 8, Provincetown 8, Eockport, Deer Isle, 
North Haven, Southport, and Bremen 5 each, Camden and Cohasset 3 
each, Salem, Eockland, and Dennis Port 2 each, Danversport, Harwich, 
Essex, Brooklyn, Orleans, Truro, Belfast, Sedgwick, Hingham, Swamp- 
scott, Portsmouth, Vinalhaven, New London, Bristol, and Perth Araboy 
1 each. Of the Gloucester fleet 118 vessels are reported to have taken 
28,847 barrels; of these, 8,735 barrels, of a value of $36,725, were caught 
within the three-mile line. Taking this as a basis, and the American 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. [344] 

catcli iu tlie bay last year was 00,749 barrels of mackerel, of whicli 
20,202 barrels, of a value of $84,848, wA^e taken within tlie three-mile 
liue, for which latter privilege we have paid $450,000 in cash (without 
including interest) and lu^oiiably as much more iu remission of duties. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, January 40, 1879.) 

1878. — Eeview of the new England mackerel fishery. 

The annual report of the Boston Fish Bureau for 1878 gives the fol- 
lowiug review of the mackerel fishery for that year: 

The season opened unusually early. Schooner '' Lillian," sailing March 
12, landed the first fresh mackerel iVpril 6, followed a few days later by 
50 sail, with from 100 to 150 barrels each of mixed fish of poor quality, the 
early catch resulting, as usual, in a loss to nearly all as well as an injury 
to the trade. We hope to see its discontinuance in the future. The 
catch early gave promise of being larger than for years, \'ery soon fell 
oif, and was followed with fluctuation and but partial success off our 
own shores as well as in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, a large fleet going 
there doing worse than those that remained near home, the fi.sh j^roviug 
of inferior quality iu either case. The value of the fisheries in English 
waters to the United States the past season is not far from 0,200 barrels 
of mackerel of not over |5 a barrel value, the total Bay or Gulf of Saint 
Lawreuce catch of fish being 62,000 barrels, not over 10 per cent, of 
which was taken within the three-mile limit. The total Massachusetts 
catcli was 144,205 barrels, a gain of 39,187 barrels over 1877, the shrink- 
age in value making the catch no more profitable. Total receipts in 
Boston in 1878, 143,028 ; in 1877, 142,024. jSTever in the memory of the 
oldest dealers has the price been as low on inferior grades as this season, 
while the average pric(^ has not been as low in twenty or more years. 
Choice mackerel having been scarce all. the season, have sustained a 
good price, a wide margin from the highest to the lowest ranging from 
$25 down to $1.50 per barrel. 

1879. — Failure of the gulf of saint laweence mackerel fish- 
eries. 

Gloucester, Mass., August 19, 1879. 
Advices from Collector Babso^, who is cruising in the Bay of Saint 
Lawrence, represent that mackerel fishing in the bay this season is a 
comjdete failure. Many firms are going out of the business. — (New 
York Herald, August 19, 1879.) 

1879. — Abundance of mackerel off the new England coast, 
and scarcity in the bay. 

Bath, Me., August 28, 1879. 
Dear Sir: It may interest you to know the present couditioi] of the 
Portland mackerel fisheries, as I learn it from conversation with several 
of the more prominent dealers of the place. 



[345] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

They say that mackerel have uot been so plenty off the Maine coast 
for a number of years. A Large tleet of vessels are fishing between 
Portland and Mount Desert Island, taking mostly large No. 2's, and all 
very fat. The vessels "till up" in from ten days to two weeks, some- 
times bringing in a deck load beside. A good many vessels from dif- 
ferent parts of the State, and some from Cape Ann, are packing in 
Porthmd at $1.25 per barrel. All the i)acking houses are kept busy, 
and it is estimated by Mr. E. G. Willard that they have packed over 
7,000 barrels in the three weeks ending August 23. Of these he has 
bought and shipped over 6,000 barrels to parties in New York. 

The price for 2's three weeks ago was $o, but under the heavy re- 
ceipts, prices have gradually fallen, until Saturday they were selling at 
$4.12i, and Mr. Willard thought that Monday they would reach $4. 

Vessels fishing in the baj^ have done very poorly, and have mostly 
returned with " broken trips," or filled nj) on their way home, ofl' this 
coast. Mr. Charles A. Dyer gives me the following: Schooner "M. E. 
Torrey" arrived home about August 1 from a mackerel trip in English 
waters. She was gone five weeks at an expense for outfit of $470. She 
brought home 200 barrels of fish that sold at $3 per barrel net, of which 
the crew took one half. This left a loss to the vessel of $170 in money, 
beside loss of time and general wear. This represents a fair average, 
he thinks, of vessels in English waters in 1879. 

During the same time of schooner " M. E. Torrey's" trip the schooner 
"Alice" landed from American waters 700 barrels of better fish, and 
stocked $2,500. 

I know of but one Portland vessel in the bay at the present time, and 
she has not been heard from since June 25, when she had 20 barrels. 
Very truly, yours, 

E. E. EAELL. 

Prof. Gr. Brown Goode, 

Uniied States Fish Commission, Provincetown, Mass. 

1879. — Mackerel fisheries of the gulf of saint lawrence. 

The following observations on the mackerel fishery in the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence are from the report of Collector F. J. Babson and 
Alfred D. Foster, esq., who visited the provincial inshore fisheries in 
the United States steamship " Kearsarge" iii the summer of 1879 : 

"The principal fishery followed by the American fishermen in the waters 
of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence is the mackerel fishery. * * * Previous 
to the reciprocity treaty of 1854 the mackerel fishery was almost wholly 
in. the hands of the Americans, the provincial tisheruKm confining them- 
selves entirely to the cod-fishery. This treaty, by opening the markets 
of the United States to Canadian fish, stimulated this industry, until 
now Canadian fishermen engage in this fisher^^ on all the coasts of the 
maritime provinces. The methods of taking mackerel in use by the 
Canadian and American fishermen difler widely. The Canadians fish 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [346] 

in small boats, going" oat a short distance only from the shore, returning 
to their homes each night, and using hand lines alone. In Prince Ed- 
ward Island there were engaged in these fisheries during the year 1878 
1,175 boats and only 17 vessels. 

"Professor Hind, in his confidential report to the Canadian Govern- 
ment upon the effect of the Washington treaty on Canadian fisheries, 
speaking of the difference in the modes of fishing used by the Canadians 
and Americans, says: 'Mackerel catching is a special industry, and re- 
quires sea-going vessels. The boat equipment so common throughout 
British- American waters is wholly unsuited to the i)ursuit of the mack- 
erel so largely carried on by United States fishermen. Immense schools 
of mackerel are frequently left unmolested in the Gulf and on the coast 
of Newfoundland, in consequence of the fishermen being unprovided 
with suitable vessels and fishing gear.' * * * 

'' The size, quality, and number of mackerel in the Gulf vary ex- 
ceedingly in different years, sometimes being a mixed quality of large 
and small, and at other seasons being very poor and of little value. 
During the present season the mackerel taken in the Gulf have been 
smaller and poorer than ever before, and will hardly pay even the Cana- 
dians themselves for taking them. At Prince Edward Island mack- 
erel can be bought for about $1 a barrel unpacked, while packed, salted, 
and delivered in Boston they cannot be sold for more than $3, and the 
dealers there have refused to advance more than $2 upon the mackerel 
consigned to them. Indeed, the managers of some of the largest fishing 
establishments upon the island have this summer given up the mackerel 
fishery and turned their attention entirely to catching cod for the West 
India market, considering that after paying the expense of packing and 
transporting the mackerel there was no margin left for any profit. 

"The number of American vessels in the Gulf varies very much each 
year. There have been seasons previous to the treaty of Washington 
when as many as 500 vessels were in the Gulf at one time, but since the 
treaty has been in operation the number has greatly diminished. By 
the official record kept by the collector of customs at Port Mulgrave in 
the Gut of Canso, there appear to have been in the Gulf in 1873, 251 ves- 
sels; 1874, 164 vessels. This record for the years 1875 and 1876 was de- 
manded by the counsel of the LTuited States at the Halifax Commission, 
but was refused by the British counsel, although it was admitted that 
the records were in their x>ossession. The evidence jjroduced by the 
United Sta,tes shows that during those years there were not more than 
100 vessels in the Gulf. There were in 1877, 60 vessels; 1878, 273 
vessels; 1879, 44 vessels. 

" Of the vessels in the Gulf in 1879, 24 are reported as having obtained 
7,045 barrels, an average of 293 barrels each, which would make for the 
whole fleet, 13,905 barrels taken by American vessels in the Gulf in this 
year. If one-half of the fish were caught within three miles of the 
shore, which is a very large estimate, the value of the Canadian inshore 



[347] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY, 

mackerel fishery to the United States in 1879 was only $G,8G0 — this is cal- 
culating the value of the fish at the price for which it can be purchased 
unpacked in Prince Edward Island, and making" no allowance for the 
expense of catching the mackerel. In 1878 more American vessels went 
to the Gulf than any year since the treaty has been in operation. Early, 
in the season the fishing was poor upon the United States coast, and 
many vessels went to the Gulf in hope that they would find the mackerel 
there, but most of them returned at once and did much better on the 
American shore. The whole American catch in the Gulf, in 1878, was 
only 61,923 barrels, while 134,545 barrels were taken on our own coast. 
Every vessel engaged in the Gulf mackerel fishery during the last two 
years has lost money. * * * 

"On Friday, August 15, we left Prince Edward Island for the Magda- 
len Islands, arriving there the evening of the 16th. Under the conven- 
tion of 1818 the American fishermen have the right to fish on the shores 
of the Magdalen Islands, without any restriction as to distance. Situ- 
ated in the center of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, these islands were for- 
merly the resort of large bodies of mackerel, which remained there aU 
summer, and until the last few years American vessels found around 
these islands the best fishing places in the Gulf. 

"Mr. Fox, the collector and fishery overseer of the Magdalen Islands, 
testified before the Halifax Commission that in 1861 he counted 500 
American schooners engaged in fishing near the islands. Wheu we saw 
him there, this summer, he informed us he had not seen a single Uni- 
ted States vessel. In 1877 about 30 vessels fished near the islands; in 
1878, only 20, and none of these did well. This year the mackerel catch, 
at the islands has been a failure; very few have been taken by the in- 
habitants, and they were all small, not exceeding 13 inches in length. 
* * * The great dependence of the Canadian fishing industry 
upon the markets of the United States for the sale of their fish, and the 
great benefit which they receive from the remission of duties, clearly 
ajjpear from the returns. Nearly one-half of all the fish exported from 
Canada goes to the United States, while of mackerel alone nearly four- 
fifths of the entire exportation is to the United States. In 1877, J 02,698 
barrels of mackerel were exported to the United States, and only 28,523 
barrels to all other countries. Practically, the United States is the only 
market for the best qualities of mackerel, and if a i:)rohibitory duty 
should be imposed, the fishery would be almost abandoned by the Cana- 
dians. If an average duty of 20 per cent, had been imposed on Cana- 
dian fish, more than two millions of dollars would have been received 
by the United States since the treaty of Washington came into force.* 

1879. — High line of the mackerel fleet. 

Schooner "Ada E. Terry," of this port, Capt. Eussell D. Terry, master, 
has landed this season 4,150 barrels mackerel,, and her net stock is 
*House Ex. Doc. No. 84, 2d sess. 46tli Congress. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [348] 

$10,970, sharing $363 to a man, making her high line of the mackerel 
fleet from New York to New Brunswick. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, De- 
cember 12, 1879.) 

1879. — Eeview of the new England mackerel fishery. 

In the annual report of the Boston Fish Bureau for 1879 is the follow- 
ing concerning the mackerel fishery : 

With few exceptions the spring catch is followed only at a loss, the 
past season proving no exception. The first to arrive generally realiz- 
ing a handsome sum, induced the usual number, seventy -five sail, to go 
south, sailing in March and April. The first to report, schooners "Ellen 
M. Adams" and " Sarah M. Jacobs," taking 150 and 120 barrels of mixed 
size and poor quality, on April 13. But a small amount of the spring 
catch was cured. First fare of salt mackerel landed by schooner '' Cora 
E. Smith," May 3. As the season advanced and the fish reached our 
New England coast, finding an abundance of their natural fond, they 
rapidly improved in condition and remained plenty all the season, and 
much later than for years past, having been taken as late as December 
19. The catch is particularly noticeable for its superior quality, much 
better than for years, as well as for its uniform size, being mostly 2's 
and 3's, with very few Vs; and the absence of the very small, or No. 4's, 
of the two previous years gives promise of a size larger, or at least a fair 
amount of large fish the coming season. While the early-caught, poor 
fish realized but $2.50 a barrel, as they improved in quality the demand 
and price also increased, the average price being $16, $6, and $3.50, for 
I's, 2's, and 3's. Late in the season our shores were visited by the larg- 
est mackerel ever seen, of most excellent quality, measuring from 16 to 
19^ inches long, weighing from If to 3 pounds each, readily selling 
from 25 to 30 cents each, and from $35 to $40 per barrel, cured. Our 
North Bay fieet was, fortunately, very small, only 42 sail from New 
England, averaging 257 barrels ; aggregate catch 10,796 barrels of small 
and very inferior fish, one vessel securing but 25 barrels all the season ; 
while the shore fleet, much smaller than usual, numbering 283 sail, aver- 
aged 740 barrels ; the average shore catch 209,803 barrels. Total catch 
of the Massachusetts fleet, 156,125 barrels, against 144,205 barrels in 
1878. As to the relative value of the mackerel fishery off the New Eng- 
land coast as compared to those in provincial waters, it will be noticed 
our catch began in Aj)ril, ending the middle of December, three-fourths 
of a year. It is now in contemplation sending vessels south to i>rosecute 
this branch the remaining three months, making our catch i)erennial, 
while the provincial catch, with favorable weather, lasts about four 
months. [The receipts of fresh mackerel in Boston in 1879 were 1 1,724,943 
fish in number. This is in addition to the receipts of salt mackerel.] 

1880. — The southern mackerel fishery. — early catches. — the 

fleet for 1880. 
The tendency in the mackerel fishery is to earlier trips from year to 
year, the use of seines enabling the fishermen to secure a catch as soon 



[349] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

as mackerel put in an appcaiancie and before tliey are ready to take tlie 
hook, and the ready market for the first fresh mackerel proving a temp- 
tation to enterprising fisberiuen. The first receipts in the New York 
and Philadelphia markets in 1875 were A]ml 30; in 1S7C), Apiil 24; in 
1877, April 25 ; in 1878, April 5; and in 1870, April 14. This year the 
pioneers of the fleet sailed a month earlier than usual, hoping- by going 
farther South to make an early catch, and qidte a respectable fleet are 
now in southern waters, awaiting the first appearance of mackerel. The 
following vessels comprise the fleet sailing in March : 

Boston.— ^(ihooner "G. W. Bentley," 1. 

Booth Bay. — Schooners "Alice G. Fox," "Cyrena Ann," "Cynosure," 
"Lettie S. Eeed," "Louis and Eose," 5. 

Chatham. — Schooners "Leiha Liu wood," "Willie Irving," 2. 

Dennis. — Schooners "Charlotte Brown," "Cora Louise," "Mary 
Doane," "Quivet," "Titmouse," "Willie Parkman," 6. 

Gloucester. — Schooners "Bounding Billow," "Chocorua," "Crest of 
the Wave," "Charles Haskell," "Earnest F. ISTorwood," "Frank A. 
Smith," "Golden Hind," "Goldsmith Maid," "Fred. L. Webb," "Fred. 
P. Frye," "Ellen M. Adams," "Edward E. Webster," "Fleetwiug," 
"Helen M. Crosby," "Joe Hooker," "John W. Bray," "Joseph Gar- 
land," "Herald of the Morning," "Marion Grimes," "M. L. Wetherell," 
" Onward," " Ossipee," " Piscataqua," " Eeporter," " Wide Awake," 
"Vv^illiam S. Baker," "Edward Everett," "Falcon," " Georgianna," 
"Isaac Patch," "Mary O'Dell," " Madawaska Maid," "Oceanns," "Eat- 
tler," "Sarah M. Jacobs," 35. 

Harwich. — Schooners "Kate Florence," "ISTettie Moore," "Phebe and 
Emma," "Ch'as. H. Kelly," "Isaac Somes," 5. 

Newhuryport. — Schooners "George W. Brown," "Lizzie Thompson," 
"Miantouomah," 3. 

Portsmouth. — Schooners "Gov. Goodwin," and "Daniel Marcy," 2. 

Portland. — Schooners "Georgie Willard," "Maggie W. Willard," 2. 

Swafi's Island — Schooner "Alice," 1. 

Total, 62.— (Cape Ann Advertiser, April 10, 1880.) 

1880.~F[RST ARRIVAL OF FRESH JMACKEREL IN NEW YORK. 

Fresh mackerel — The first fare of fresh mackerel the present season 
was landed at New York, Saturday, bj^ schooner "Edward E. Webster," 
Capt. Solomon Jacobs, of this port. She brought in a fare of 20,000, 
which were sold at 8 cents apiece, making her stock $1,600. — (Cape Ann 
Advertiser, April 7, 1880.) 

1880. — The largest mackerel ever seen. 

Some of the mackerel taken at Block Island Monday, July 25, weighed 
3 pounds 2 ounces, the largest ever seen. — (Cape Ann Advertise]', August 
6, 1880.) 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [350] 

1880. — Abundance of mackerel. — aooD fares. 

Large schools of large mackerel were reported off Mouhegan on Sun- 
day. Five vessels did well. 

Schooner "Alice" of Swan's Island is reported high-line of the bay 
mackerel tleet, haviug landed and sent home three fares. 

The schooners "Gov. Goodwin," "Helen F, Tredick" and "Anna M. 
Kash" of Portsmouth, arrived on Tuesday with 400 barrels of the largest 
mackerel ever brought to that port. They average less than 100 to the 
barrel. For several days past the water off the harbor has been liter- 
ally black with mackerel, those at the bottom crowding toward the top. 
Fishermen report nothing like it for years. — (Ibid.) 

1880. — Millions of mackerel on the new England coast. 

The vast strike-in of mackerel all along our coast is really phenome- 
nal. ISTobody remembers anything like it. Thousands were caught 
yesterday and the day before, even without bait, as if mackerel were as 
simple as " Hancock Union soldiers " who snap at a bare rebel hook. 
Every boat, from the craziest old dory to the fashionable yacht, is 
pressed into service, and there are as many " kits " going to Boston and 
Lynn, and Salem and Gloucester, as the unwary boy supposes are on 
their way to St. Ives, when the famous problem of Pike's old arithmetic 
is propounded. From anj^ look-out the scnools can be seen on the surface 
of the water, hunting around for somebody to catch them, like bummer 
politicians seeking for bids. The theory that the mackerel had been 
depopulated in our waters is annihilated. There are still as good fish 
in the sea as ever wei^e caught, and apparently more of them. It is said 
that the mackerel are pursued by the blueiish and the bluefish by the 
sharks. What is after the sharks is not stated. But our thanks are 
due to the bluefish in the first degree. They are the ipackerel school- 
master, and the success of our fishermen is due to the fact that the 
schoolmaster is abroad in the waters. — (Lowell (Mass.) Courier, July 16, 
1880.) 

1880. — Mackerel fishery of Gloucester. 

The records of the United States Fish Commission at Gloucester, 
Mass., show that the total number of fares of salt mackerel landed at 
that port in the year 1880 was 722, of which 25 fares were from the 
bay of Saint Lawrence in American vessels. The total receipts of salt 
mackerel were 135,774 sea-packed, equal to about 122,200 inspected bar- 
rels of 200 pounds each, making the total weight of the fish 24,440,000 
l)ounds in the salt state, which is equivalent to 36,660,000 i)ounds of 
round or fresh mackerel. The receipts of 135,774 sea-packed barrels 
include 125,214 barrels taken by Gloucester vessels, 6,890 barrels taken 
by vessels from other New England ports, 505 barrels taken off" the 
United States coast by the schooner " Lertie " of IsTova Scotia, 3,623 barrels 
caught by boats and traps at Gloucester Harbor, and 3,437 barrels taken 



[351] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

by LTjiited States vessels iu the bay of Saint i.awrerice. The receipts 
b}^ mouths were as follows: April, 7 barrels; May, 3,977 barrels; June, 
1,730 barrels ; July, 19,105 barrels ; August, 28,030 barrels ; September, 
39,534 barrels ; October, 30,996 barrels ; November, 12,395 barrels. 

The Cape Aim Advertiser record for the year 1880, gives the follow- 
ing facts couceruiug the mackerel fishery of Gloucester in that year : 

The mackerel industry employed 175 vessels and about 2,500 men; 
the number of vessels eugaged in no other fishing branch for the year 
was 90. Fifteen were employed in mackereliugand the shore fishery; 
27 in mackereling, the herring and shore fisheries; and 38 in the mack- 
erel, Georges and bank fisheries, &c. * * * The Block Island 
mackereling fleet comprised 15 vessels, the Southern fleet 34, and the 
Bay of Saint Lawrence fleet 15, all of which were successfully engaged 
in the offshore mackerel fishery. Most of the southern fleet disposed 
of their catch, in large proportion fresh, in the Philadelphia, New York, 
and Boston markets ; the hay of Saint Lawrence trips were failures ; 
the Block Island catch was smaller than in 1879 ; but the shore catch 
was larger than for many years, and proved profitable. The total catch 
is estimated at 129,620 barrels. — (Cape Ann Advertiser, January 14, 
188 L) 

1880.— Ee VIEW OF THE NEW ENGLAND MACKEREL FISHERY. 

In its review of the New England fisheries for the year 1880 the Bos- 
ton Fish Bureau has the following concerning the mackerel fishery : 

The season opened by the early, or southern, fleet sailing in March. 
First (jatch reported by schooner "Edward E.Webster," 25,000 fish, April 
2. The record of the fleet will be found in the report of the various 
fleets, and shows another financially disastrous early catch, some of the 
vessels returning without fish, very few with j)rofit. We have in pre- 
vious reports mentioned the injurious effects of this branch of the catch, 
even when followed at a profit, a large catch of poor fish injuring tbe 
demand later in the season. The past few years fully demonstrates that 
the sooner the early iatch is abandoned the better it will be for all in- 
terested. The first catch in the weirs at Cape Cod April 26 ; first new 
salt mackerel arrived at Boston May 10. The market for a new stock 
ranged from $5 to $6, vessels doing only fairly up to July 1, the fish and 
fleet being scattered from Cape Cod to Jeffrey's Banks. Early in July 
an unprecedented large body of mackerel appeared in Massachusetts 
Bay, at our very doors. The oldest dealers and fishermen report never 
having known them so plentiful. They continued in the bay until the 
close of the season iu December, during which time the entire fleet did 
well, while many of them made remarkable "• stocks," as will be seen in 
the reports of individual vessels. The catch was noticeable for the ab- 
sence of large and very small fish, its excellent quality, however, caus- 
ing an active demand for immediate consumption. The catch in the 
North Bay and provincial waters by the American fleet was almost an. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES [352] 

entire failure, numerous vessels returning without a single barrel. • For- 
tunately, but a small number of vessels visited those waters, and, not 
finding fish, returned in time to secure enough of the home catch to save 
them from a disastrous season. The total catch of inspected barrels by 
the Massachusetts fleet is the largest since 1874, amounting to 255,986 
barrels. This season's catch has been exceeded but ten times since 18G4. 
The total catch by the Kew England fleet is 349,674 inspected barrels, 
a gain over the previous year of 99,861 barrels on the Massachusetts 
catch, and total gain of 129,075 barrels. In addition to our own large 
catch there has beenimported from the provinces 105,730 barrels, against 
84,213 the previous year. 

The total amount of mackerel received in Boston during 1880 from 
domestic and foreign ports, with home catch, 190,493 inspected barrels. 

Our report and table of receipts, number of vessels, and crew, having 
been confined to salt or cured fish, we wish briefly to call attention to 
the importance and steady growth of the fresh-fish business, * * * 
the abundance of mackerel at our doors most of the season resulting 
in the receiving and distributing throughout the country of 75,000 bar- 
rels of fresh mackerel. Day after day, for weeks, from 1,000 to 2,000 
barrels were received. Notwithstanding this unusually large produc- 
tion, all were used fresh. For the first year in the history of the busi- 
ness not a week during the year has passed but fresh mackerel could be 
bought at reasonable prices. 

1881. — What our govUenment paid foe. 

Inshore catch of mackerel in the Bay of Saint Lawrence by the Glou- 
cester fleet this year, IS barrels. That's what we helped to pay a twelfth 
of $5,500,000 for for this year's fishery. Our herring and bait and ice 
and other supplies we buy at a lirofit to the provincials, who send 
thousands of barrels of mackerel and quintals of codfish to the Ajueri- 
can market free of duty, in competition with the American fishermen. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, October 14, 1881.) 

1881. — The mackerel fishery of Gloucester, 

The records of the United States Fish Comuiission at Gloucester, 
Mass., show that the total number of fares of mackerel received at that 
port in 1881 was 713. The total number of sea- packed barrels of mack- 
erel landed was 165,497, equal to 148,948 inspected barrels of 200 pounds 
each, equal to 29,789,600 pounds of salt mackerel, or 44,684,400 pounds 
in a fresh condition. The entire catch, with the exception of one fare 
of 48 barrels from the Bay of Saint Lawrence, was taken oft' the United 
States coast. 

The records of the Cape Ann Advertiser for the year 1881 show that 
the American mackerel fleet from Gloucester numbered 149 vessels, 81 



[353] HISTOKY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

of wliicli confined their operations for the year to this department, and 
the total receipts of salt mackerel were 103,851 sea-packed barrels. — 
(Cape Ann Advertiser, Jannary 0, 1882.) 

1881. — Review of the new enCtLAnd mackerel fishery. 

The annual report of rhe Boston Fish Bureau for 1881 has the fol- 
lowing- review of the mackerel fishery for that year: 

The catch opened unnsually early, schooner "Edward E. Webster," on 
March 21, taking the first fare, 32,700 mackerel, 800 of which were large, 
balance medium and small. The first fare of new salt mackerel arrived 
in Boston May 9, one day earlier than in 1880, schooner "Roger Wil- 
liams" landing 240 bar. els that were caught off the Jersey coast. May 
.10, scliooner '-J. S. McQuinn" arrived with tlie first fare of fresh mack- 
erel, 200 barrels, caught southeast from Sandy Hook. First cargo arrived 
fresh same date in 1880. May 4tli the first catch was made in the weirs 
at Cape Cod ; previous year on April 2Gth. March 25 schooner "Lizzie 
K. Clark" was capsized by a squall and lost, 20 miles from Barnegat; 
the crew were save<l. Tliis was the only mackerel vessel lost during 
the season. Although the season opened early the catch of cured mack- 
erel reported at this office during the season, up to November, was as 
follows: May, 1,670 barrels; June, 38,683; July, 81,748; August, 70,424; 
Sei)tember, 71,043 ; October, 57,208. 

A light catch in November brought the season to an early close, the 
total catch of the New England fleet of 298 sail being 391,657 barrels, 
of which 269,495 were packed and inspected in Massachusetts — a gain 
in Massachusetts inspection of 19,534 barrels 'over 1880. This amount 
has been exceeded but five times in seventy-eight years. 

As will be noticed, the catch off the New England coast opened a 
little later than usual, and continued good all the season, with the ex- 
ception of 470 barrels, the entire catch being taken otf the United States 
coast. The size and quality were of an average, with more No. I's, and 
an absence of the very small, or No. 4 The price opened low, the first 
sale recorded being at $4.50 a barrel for large, $3.75 for medium, fall- 
ing off in June to $4 for packed, or early 3's; inspected 3's, 2's, and I's 
selling through the season as follows: July, $3.25, $3.50 for 3's; $5.25, 
$5.50 for 2's. August, $3.25, 3's; $5, 2's. "^September, $4.25, 3's; $0.50, 
2's; $10, I's. October, $8, $8 to $9, $18. November, $0.50, $9, $19. 
December, $7.50,' 3's; $9 to $10, 2's; $20, I's. 

The catch in provincial waters being a failure, our imports show a 
falling oil" of 43,880 barrels. Fortunately very few American vessels 
visited them, securing only 470 barrels; they returned home in season 
to make a good record. 

Besides the large quantity of mackerel that were salted, many thou- 
sand barrels were sold in a fresh condition. In Boston 2,200,000 and in 
Gloucester about 050,000 one-pound cans of fresh mackerel were put up. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES [354] 

IX.— APPENDIX— INSPECTION LAWS. 

Compiled by A. Howard Clark. 
52. EXISTING LAWS. 

MAINE. 

Inspectors of pickled fisJi to he appointed. Act February 10,1875, section 1. 

The governor, witli advice of the council, shall, from time to time, as 
occasion may require, appoint in each city, town, and plantation in this 
State, where pickled fish are cured or packed for exportation, one or 
more persons skilled in the quality of the same, to be inspectors of fish, 
who shall hold their office for a term of five years, unless sooner re- 
moved by the governor and council. 

Bond for the performance of their duties. Ibid., section 2. 

Every such inspector, before entering upon the duties of his office, 
shall be duly sworn, and shall give bonds with sufficient sureties to the 
treasurer of the city, town, or plantation, for which he is appointed, to 
the satisfaction of the mayor and aldermen of the city, the selectmen of 
the town, and the treasurer of the plantation, in the penal sum of not 
less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars, for the 
faithful performance of his official duties; and such municipal officers 
shall, at least once a year, examine the bonds given by said inspectors, 
and if that of any inspector is not in their opinion sufficient, they shall 
forthwith notify him, and if he for thirty days after such notice neglects 
to give a bond satisfactory to them, they shall give information thereof 
to the governor, and he shall remove such inspector from office. 

Annual report of inspectors. Ibid., section 3. 

Every inspector shall, on or before the tenth day of December, an- 
nually, make a return into the office of the secretary of state of all fish 
by him inspected during the year preceding the first day of December, 
designating the quantities, kinds, and qualities of pickled fish, and the 
secretary shall publish the same immediately after in the State paper. 

Belief of persons injured hy neglect of inspectors. Ibid., section 4. 

Any person injured by the neglect or misdoings of any inspector, on 
tendering to such treasurer a reasonable indemnity against the costs, 
shall be entitled to bring an action on such inspector's bond in the name 
of the treasurer, for his own use, and to have a copy of the bond 
therefor ; and if judgment shall be rendered thereon for the plaintiff, 
execution shall issue for the sum found due to the person for whose 



[355] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

use such action is brought, and the sum awarded iu damages sliall be 
entered by the clerk of the court on the original bond, to remain in the 
custody of the treasurer. 

Qualities of fish Ibid., section 5. 

Every inspector who inspects any kind of fish that are split or pickled 
for packing, shall see that they are in the first instance free from taint, 
rust, or damage, and well struck with salt or pickle ; and such of said 
fivsh as are in good order and of good quality, shall be pickled in tierces, 
barrels, half-barrels, quarter-barrels, and tenths of barrels, or kids ; 
each tierce containing three hundred pounds, each barrel two hundred 
pounds, and so on in that proportion ; and the same shall be packed 
in good clean coarse salt sufficient for their preservation ; and then 
each cask shall be headed uj) and filled with clear, strong pickle, and 
shall be branded by the inspector with the name and quality of the 
fish therein. Mackerel of the best quality, not mutilated, measuring, 
when split, not less than thirteen inches from the extremity of the bead 
to the crotch or fork of the tail, free from taint, rust, or damage, shall 
be branded numher one; the next best quality, being not less than 
eleven inches, measuring as aforesaid, free from taint, rust, or damage, 
shall be branded numher two ; those that remain after the above selec- 
tion, free from taint or damage, and not less than thirteen inches, meas- 
uring as aforesaid, shall be branded nnmber three, large; those of the 
next inferior quality, free from taint or damage, not less than ten 
inches, measured as aforesaid, shall be branded numher three ; all other 
mackerel, free from taint or damage, shall be branded numher three, 
small. The inspector shall brand, in plain letters, on the head of every 
such cask, the weight, the initials of his Christian name, the whole of 
his surname, the name of his town, and the letters Me., an abridgment 
of the month and the year, in figures, when j)acked. 

Qualiiy and size of caslcs or harrels. Ibid., section 6. 

All tierces, barrels, and casks, which are used for the purpose of 
packing pickled fish, shall be made of sound, well-seasoned white oak, 
white ash, spruce, pine, chestnut, or jooplar staves, with heading of 
either of such kinds of wood, sound, well planed and seasoned, and 
when of jHue to be free of sap, and the barrels to be hooped with at 
least three strong hoops on each bilge, and three also on each chime ; 
the barrel staves to be twenty-eight inches in length, and the heads to 
be seventeen inches between the chimes, and made, in a workmanlike 
manner, to hold pickle. 

Packing of aleivives or herring. Branding. Ibid., section 7. 

Every inspector who inspects pickled alewives or herring, packed 
whole or round, shall see that they are struck with salt or pickle, and 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [35G] 

then put in good casks of the size and material aforesaid, packed 
closely therein, and well salted, and the casks filled with fish and salt, . 
putting no more salt with the fish than is necessary for their preserva- 
tion ; and the inspector shall brand all such casks with the name of the 
inspected fish as aforesaid, but in no case shall the inspector brand the 
casks unless the fish contained therein shall have been packed and pre- 
pared under his immediate supervision. 

Fees for inspecting and branding. Ibid., section 8. 

The fees for inspection and branding, exclusive of cooperage, shall 
be for each barrel seven cents, and all such fees shall, in the first instance, 
be paid by the original owners of the fish, but such owners shall be enti- 
tled to recover the amount thereof from the party purchasing or receiv- 
ing the same, under the marks and brands aforesaid, and in addition to 
the price thereof. 

Penalty for selling uninspected piclded fish. Eevised Statutes, 1871, chap. 

40, sec. 13. 

If any person sells in this State, or exports therefrom, any fish in 
casks not inspected, packed, and branded, as aforesaid, or any tainted 
or damaged fish, known to be such, except good and wholesome fish 
packed in kegs of less than ten gallons, or pickled or dry fish imported 
into this State from some other State or country lawfully inspected and 
branded there, he shall forfeit ten dollars for every hundred-weight 
thus sold or exported. 

Certificate required for, sMpment of picMed fish. Ibid., section 14. 

ISo pickled fish in casks shall be shipped from this State, unless the 
master or owner of the vessel produces to the officer authorized to clear 
the vessel a certificate from the inspector that the same have been 
inspected, packed, and branded according to law; and the certificate 
shall express the number of tierces or casks thus shipped, the kind and 
quality of fish they contain, the name of the master and owner and 
that of the vessel into which such fish are received for exportation ; and 
shall take and subscribe the following oath before the officer as afore- 
said : 

"I, A B, do swear, according to the best of my knowledge and be- 
lief, that the certificate hereunto annexed contains the whole quantity 

of pickled fish packed in barrels or casks on board the , , 

master; and that no pickled fish are shipped on board said vessel for 
the ship's company, or on freight or cargo, but what are inspected and 
branded according to the laws of this State, or exempted by the provis- 
ions thereof: So help me God." 

Penalty for transporting uninspected piclded fish. Ibid., section 15. 

If any person lades or receives on board any vessel or other carriage, 
for tra asportation from this State, any pickled fish, or cured or salted 



[357] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHKRY. 

whole fish, packed or not packed, not inspected and branded as afore- 
said, except such as is described in the exception of section thirteen, he 
shall forfeit at the rate of not less than five nor more than ten dollars 
for ev^ery hundred pounds thereof; and any justice of the peace may 
issue his \Yarrant to the proper officer, directing him to seize and secure 
any such prohibited fish, and convey it to any inspector within a cou- 
A^enient distance for insxiection ; and every person refusing to give ne- 
cessary aid in the service of such warrant, when required by the officer, 
shall forfeit five dollars to the person suing therefor in an action of debt ; 
and such inspector shall open, inspect, pack, and brand such fish accord- 
ing to law and detain the same till all lawful charges of seizure and in- 
spection are i^aid. 

Penalty for illegally branding or mixing. Ibid., section 16. 

If any person takes from a cask any pickled, cured, lawfully inspected 
and branded, and substitutes therefor or fraudulently intermixes other 
fish ; or any inspector marks any cask out of his town, or which he has 
not inspected, packed, and prepared himself according to law ; permits 
other persons unlawfullj^ to use his brands 5 or willfully and fraudulently 
uses the same himself after the exi>iration of his commission, he shall 
forfeit twenty dollars for each cask or box so dealt with. 

Heconery of 2)e)ialties. Ibid., section 17. 

All the penalties aforesaid, not otherwise herein appropriated, may be 
recovered in an action of debt, half to the use of the person suing there- 
for, and half to the town where the offense is committed. 

Branding of smoked herring. Laws of 1871, passed February 24. 

Be it enacted, &c. 

Hereafter no inspection of smoked herring shall be required in this 
State, but all smoked herring i)ut up in boxes or casks for sale in this 
State shall be branded on the cask or bos inclosing them with the first 
letter of the Christian and the whole of the surname of the person put- 
ting up the same, and with the name of the State and the place where 
such person lives, and all such fish offered for sale or shipping not thus 
branded shall be forfeited, one-half to the use of the town where the 
offense is committed, and the other half to the person libeling the same; 
and all laws and parts of laws inconsistent herewith are herebj^ repealed. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

(General laws of New Hampshire, 1878.) 

Appointment and qualification of inspectors and deputy inspectors. Chap. 

124, Section 1-4. 

Inspectors of flour, beef, and pork, of potash and pearlash, of butter 
and lard, of hops, and of fish, shall be appointed by the governor, with 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [358] 

f 
tlie advice and consent of the council, and sliall hold their offices for 
the terra of five years, unless sooner removed by the governor and 
council. 

Each inspector, before entering upon the duties of his oifice, shall 
give bond to the State, with sufficient sureties, to the satisfaction of 
the treasurer thereof, in the sum of two thousand dollars. 

Each inspector shall appoint so many deputy -inspectors as maybe 
necessary, removable at his pleasure, and for whom he shall be answer- 
able, who shall first give bond to him, with sufficient sureties, in a sum 
not exceeding one thousand dollars, and shall once in six months, or 
ofteuer if requested, make such returns to him as he may reciuire. 

All oaths required to be taken by any deputy may be administered by 
the inspector, and all oaths required to be taken in the inspection of - 
provisions or merchandise may be administered by the inspector or any 
deputy, or, in either case, by a justice. 

If a vacancy shall occur in the office of inspector, his deputies shall 
continue to perform their duties and shall possess the same j)owers and 
be subject to the same liabilities as if no vacancy had occurred, until an 
inspector shall be appointed and duly qualified. 

The word " inspector" in this title may include deputy inspector. 

Fielded fish to he ivell preserved. Chap. 129, sections 1, 2. 

The inspector of fish or some deputy shall see that all kinds of split 
pickled fish and fish for barreling, intended for exportation, have been 
well struck with salt or pickle in the first instance, and preserved free 
from rust, taint, or damage. 

Such fish as are in good order and of good quality shall be packed in 
tierces, barrels, or half-barrels; the tierces to contain three hundred 
pounds, the barrels two hundred pounds, and the half-barrels one hun- 
dred pounds of fish each, and shall be i)acked with good clean salt, 
suitable for the purpose ; and the casks, after being packed and headed, 
with the fish and sufficient salt to jireserve the same, shall be filled with 
a clear strong pickle. 

Qualities of pickled fish. Branding. Ibid., sections 3-5. 

Each cask shall be filled with fish of one and the same kind, and 
shall be branded "salmon," "shad," " alewives," "herring," or as the 
case may be ; those of the best quality, caught in the right season, to 
be most approved and free from damage, shall be branded "cargo num- 
ber one"; those which remain after the best have been selected, being 
sweet, free from taint, rust, or damage, shall be branded "cargo number 
two"; and the thinnest and poorest of those that are sweet and'whole- 
some shall be branded "cargo number three." 

There shall be four numbers of mackerel: Tbose of the best quality, 
not mutilated, measuring not less than thirteen inches from the extrem- 



[359] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

ity of tLe head to the fork of the tail, free from rust, taint, or damage, 
sliall be branded "number one." The next best quality, being not less 
than eleven inches, measuring as aforesaid, free from rust, taint, or 
damage, shall be branded "number two." Those that remain after the 
above selections, if free from taint or damage, and not less than thir- 
teen inches, measuring as aforesaid, shall be branded "number three, 
large." Those of the next inferior quality, free from taint or damage, 
shall be branded "number three." All other mackerel free from taint 
or damage shall be branded " number four." 

The inspector shall also brand, in plain, legible letters, on the head 
of every such cask, the initials of his Obristian name and the whole of 
his surname, the name of the town for which he is appointed, and the 
abbreviation K. H. All mackerel shall also be branded on each cask 
with the month in which the same are packed. 

Inspection of smolced aleicives or herrings. Ibid., sections G-8. 

All herrings or alewives intended to be smoked and packed shall be 
sufficiently salted and smoked to cure and preserve the same, and after- 
ward closely packed in the boxes in dry weather. 

All smoked alewives or herrings sball be divided and sorted by the 
inspector or some deputy, and denominated, according to their quality, 
"first sort" or "second sort." The "first sort" shall consist of all the 
largest and best-cured fish ; the " second sort" of the smaller but well- 
cured fish ; and in all cases all fish which are belly-broken, tainted, 
or scorched, slack-salted not suificiently smoked shall be taken out as 
refuse. 

Each box of alewives or herrings so inspected shall be branded on 
the top by the inspecting officer with the initials of his Christian name 
and the whole of his surname, the name of the town where it was in- 
spected, with the abbreviation N. H., the quality, whether "first sort" 
or " second sort," and the mouth and year in which they were so branded. 

Quality and size of paclmgefor piclded fish. Ibid., section 9. 

All tierces, barrels, and half barrels used for packing or containing 
pickled fish shall be made of sound, well-seasoned white oak, ash, red oak, 
spruce, pine, or chestnut staves, of rift timber, with heading of either of 
said kinds of wood, well planed, sound, and well seasoned, the heading 
of pine to be free from sap ; and shall be well hooped with at least three 
good and strong hoops on each bilge, and three hoops on each chime ; 
the barrel staves shall be twenty-eight inches in length, and the heads 
seventeen inches between the chimes ; the barrel shall contain not less 
than twenty-nine nor more than thirty gallons, the half barrels not less 
than fifteen gallons, and the tierces not less than forty-five nor more 
than forty-six gallons, and each cask shall be made in a workmanlike 
manner to hold pickle, and shall be branded on the side thereof, near 
the bung, with the name of the maker or owner. , 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [360] 

Quality and size ofboxesfor smoJced fish. Ibid., section 10. 

All boxes used for packing and containing smoked alewives or her- 
rings shall be made of good, sound boards, sawed and well seasoned, 
the sides, top, and bottom of not less than half inch boards, and the 
ends of not less than three-quarter-inch boards, securely nailed with 
wrought or cut nails, and shall be seventeen inches in length, eleven 
inches in breadth, and six iuches in depth, in the clear. 

Branding-irons to he furnished the inspector. Ibid., section 11. 

Every person having fish for packiug or pickling, either in bulk, 
casks, or boxes, to the amount of twenty barrels or forty boxes in one 
season, shall furnish the inspector, or one of his deputies, with a brand- 
ing-iron containing the initials of the owner's Christian name and the 
whole of his surname; and the inspecting officer shall cause such name 
to be fairly branded on the head of every cask and on one end of every 
box of fish insjjected for such person. If he shall refuse or neglect to 
furnish such brand, he shall forfeit three dollars for such neglect or 
refusal. 

Inspection of fish pached ichole. Ibid, section 12. 

All small fish which are usually packed whole with dry salt shall be 
put in good casks, of the size and materials above required for pickled 
fish, and shall be packed close, edgewise, in the cask, and well salted 5 
the casks shall be filled with the fish and salt, putting in no more salt 
than is necessary for the preservation of the fish; and the inspecting 
officer shall braud each cask with the name of the fish and the quality 
thereof, whether " first sort ", or " second sort," as in the case of smoked 
fish aforesaid. 

Annual report of inspectors and their deputies. Ibid., section 13. 

The inspector shall make return to the governor annually, on or be- 
fore the first Wednesday of June, of all the fish of every kind, whether 
in casks or boxes, which have been inspected by him or his deputies 
duriug the year iDreceding; and each deputy shall seasonably furnish 
said inspector with a return of all the tierces, barrels, half barrels, and 
boxes by him inspected and branded since his last return. 

Fees for inspection of fish. Ibid., sections 14, 15. 

The fees for inspecting aud branding each cask or box of fish as pro- 
vided by this chapter shall be, for each tierce, fourteen cents; for each 
barrel, nine cents; for each half barrel, five cents; for each smaller 
cask or box, three cents; for nailing each cask or box, one cent, exclu- 
sive of the labor of packing and coopering; and twenty-five cents for 
each certificate thereof given ; and the general inspector shall have and 
receive from his deputies the sum of four cents for each and every 



[361] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

tierce, and one cent for each barrel or box, and one lialf cent for each 
lialf barrel or smaller quantity so inspected and branded by any of liis 
deputies. 

These charges shall be paid by the owner or person employing the 
inspecting officer, and may by such person be recovered of the subse- 
quent purchaser or exporter, in addition to the ijurchase or cost of the 
lish. 

Certificate required for shipment of incMed or smolced jUh. Ibid., sec- 
tions 16, 17. 

Xo pickled fish or smoked ale wives or herring shall be shipped or ex- 
ported by water from this State in casks or boxes unless the owner or 
master of the vessel shall ijroduce to the collector, or other officer au- 
thorized by the laws of the United States to clear vessels out, a certifi- 
cate from the inspector or some deputy that such fishhas been inspected, 
packed, and branded according to law, together with the number of 
tierces, barrels, half barrels, and boxes thus shipped, the kind and 
quality of fish they contain, the name of the vessel in which such fish 
are received for exportation, and the owner or master thereof. 

The master or owner, on producing such certificate to such officer, 

shall take and subscribe the following oath : " I, A B, of , 

do swear, according to the best of my knowledge and belief, that the 
certificate hereunto annexed contains the whole quantity of pickled and 

branded fish, smoked alewives, and herrings on board the , , 

master, and that no fish is shipped on board said vessel for the ship's 
company, or on freight or cargo, but what is inspected and branded 
according to law. So help me God." 

Penalty for transporting uninspected fish. Ibid., sections 18, 19. 

If any person shall put or receive on board any vessel or other car- 
riage of conveyance, to transport the same from this State, any pickled 
or whole fish, or any smoked alewives or herrings, j)acked in casks or 
boxes, which are not inspected and branded according to law, he shall 
forfeit not less than two dollars nor more than ten dollars for every hun- 
dred pounds of pickled or whole fish, and one dollar for each box of 
smoked alewives or herrings so uninspected. 

If any pickled or barreled fish, smoked alewives or herrings as afore- 
said, shall be put on board any vessel, boat, or carriage of cou\'eyance, 
with intent to sell or exi:)ort the same contrary to law, any justice may 
issue his warrant to the sheriff, his deputies, or a constable, requii'ing 
such officer to seize and secure said fish, and carry them to the inspector 
or deputy nearest to such vessel, boat, or carriage, who shall oi)eu and 
inspect, pack, and brand the same as is provided in this chapter, and 
shall detain the same until the expense and charges of seizure, inspec- 
tion, packing, and all other charges arising from such seizure shall be 
paid. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [362] 
Penalty for illegally handing or repacldng. Ibid., sectious 20, 21. 

If the inspector or any deputy shall brand any cask or box the con- 
tents of which he has not inspected, packed, salted, coopered, and nailed 
according to the jjrovisions of this chapter, or shall permit any other 
person to use his brands in violation or evasion thereof, he shall forfeit 
twentj^ dollars for each cask or box so branded, and shall also be removed 
from oflBce. 

If any person shall intermix, take out, or shift any inspected fish, 
packed and branded as aforesaid, or shall put in other ftsh for sale or 
exportation, he shall forfeit five dollars for each cask, package, or box 
so altered ; and if any casualty shall render it necessary to repack a 
cask or box of inspected fish it shall in all cases be done by an inspector. 

Penalty for selling tainted or damaged fish. Ibid., sections 22, 23, 

If any person s^mW sell or export, or cause to be sold or exported, 
within or from this State, any tainted or damaged pickled fish, or smoked 
alewives or herrings, he shall forfeit three dollars for every hundred 
weight of such pickled fish, and one dollar for each box of such smoked 
alewives or herrings which shall be thus sold or exported. 

Pacldng of shellfish. Ibid., section 23. 

All shelled clams or other shelled fish used for fish bait, hereafter 
off&red for sale, shall be put in barrels or half barrels of the description 
required for j)ickled fish ; and the casks shall be filled full and salted 
sufficiently to preserve the same; if any person shall ofl'er for sale any 
shelled fish, aforesaid, not packed agreeably to this section, he shall 
forfeit for each oifense two dollars. 

Paching of fish for consumption ivithin the State. Ibid., section 24. 

All kinds of pickled fish wdnch are packed in tierces, barrels, or half 
barrels, and all smoked alewives or herrings packed in boxes, for con- 
sumption in this State, and which are not subject to be inspected and 
branded as provided in case of exportation, shall, however, be packed 
with only one kind of fish in each cask or box, and there shall be the 
same weight in each cask as hereinbefore provided ; and for intermixing 
ditferent kinds of fish in the same cask or box, or for short weight in 
any cask, the owner or seller shall forfeit the same sum hereinbefore 
provided for the like offense is such fish were inspected. 

Fish paclced in small kegs exempt from inspection. Ibid., section 25. 

Nothing in this chapter shall extend to fish packed in kegs of less 
than ten gallons. 



[363] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

(General statutes of Massachusetts, 1859, with subsequent amendments.) 

Aijpointment and qualification of inspector -general and deputies. Chap, 
xlix, sections 1, 2, 33, 34. 

Tbere shall be insiiectors-general of butter and lard, fish, hops, leather, 
and pot and pearl ashes appointed b^^ the governor, with the advice 
and consent of the council, lor the term of five years, from the time of 
their respective appointmeuts, unless sooner removed by the governor 
and council, who, before entering upon the duties of their respective 
offices, shall be sworn. The inspectors-general now in office shall 
hold their offices according to the term of their respective commissions, 
unless sooner removed. 

Each inspector-general may appoint deputy inspectors, removable at 
his pleasure, who shall once in every six mouths make such returns to 
him as he requires to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. 

The inspector- general offish shall give bond with sufficient sureties 
to the treasurer of the commonwealth in the penal sum of ten thous- 
and dollars, and shall have no interest directly or indirectly in the cure 
or packing of pickled fish. 

He may appoint deputy inspectors in every seaport or other town 
where such fish is i)acked for exportation, ior whose official conduct he 
shall be answerable. He shall take bonds of each of them with sufficient 
sureties, and shall receive from each deputy an excise or fee for his com- 
mission and bond of one dollar, and no more. The deputies shall be 
sworn either before the inspector-general or some justice of the peace. 

Pickled fish to he icell preserved and packed. Ibid., sections 'So, 36. 

The inspector-general and deputy inspectors sball inspect all fish for 
the ins[)ection of which provision is made in this chapter. 

Under the supervision of the inspector- general and his deputies, re- 
spectively, all kinds of split pickled fish and fish for barreling except 
herrings, and all codfish tongues and sounds, halibut tins and napes, and 
sword-fish, whenever said articles are intended for exportation, shall 
be struck with salt or pickle in the first instance, and preserved sweet 
and free from rust, taint, or damage; and, when the same are found in 
good order and of good quality, they shall be packed either in tierces 
containing each three hundred pounds, in barrels containing each two 
hundred pounds, in half barrels containing each one. hundred pounds,* 
or in packages containing each less than one hundred pounds, on which 



*The conclusion of this sentence, from the words "one hundred pounds," is given as 
amended by act of April 1, 1879. The Revised Statutes of 1859 conclude the sentence 
as follows: " in quarter barrels containing each iifty pounds, in eighths of a barrel 
or kids containing each twenty-five pounds, or in kids or packages containing each 
less thantweuty-fivepouuds,onwhich the number of pounds therein shall bo branded." 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [364] 

the nnmber of pounds therein shall be plainly and legibly branded. 
Every cask, kid, or package shall be packed with good, clean salt suit- 
able for the purpose, and, after packing with sufidcieut salt to preserve 
its contents, shall be headed or well secured, and filled up with a clean, 
strong pickle. 

Qualities of pickled fisli. Ibid., section 37. 

There shall be five qualities of mackerel, three of salmon and shad, 
and two of other kinds of pickled fish. Mackerel of the best quality, not 
mutilated, measuring not less than thirteen inches from the extremity 
of the head to the crotch or fork of the tail, free from rust, taint, or dam- 
age, shall be branded number one. The next best quality, being not less 
than eleven inches, measuring as aforesaid, free from rust, taint, or dam- 
age, shall be branded number two. Those that remain after the above 
selections, if free from taint or damage, and not less than thirteen inches, 
measuring as aforesaid, shall be branded number three, large. Those of 
the next inferior quality, free from taint or damage, not less than ten 
inches in length as aforesaid, shall be branded number three. All other 
mackerel free from taint or damage shall be branded number four. 
Those salmon and shad which are of the best quality for family use, free 
from rust or dainage, shall be selected for number one and number two, 
the best of them selected and branded number one, the residue, number 
two; all that remain, free from taint, and sound, shall be branded number 
three. Of all other pickled fish, the best which are free from taint and 
damage shall be branded number one, those that remain, free from taint, 
and sound, number two. 

Penalty for illegally iKicldng. Ibid., section 38. 

Each cask, kid, or package shall be filled with fish of the same kind, 
or parts of the same kind of fish ; and whoever intermixes, takes out, or 
shifts any inspected fish which are i)acked or branded as aforesaid, or 
puts in other fish for sale or exportation, shall forfeit fifteen dollars for 
each package so altered. If any casualty renders it necessary to repack 
a cask of inspected fish, it shall in all cases be done by an inspector 
of such fish. 

Branding of packages. Ibid., section 39. 

The inspector shall brand in plain, legible letters, on the head of each 
cask of fish inspected by him, the denomination of the fish packed or 
repacked therein, the iuitials of his Christian name and the whole of his 
surname, and, if a deputy, the name of the place for which he is ap- 
pointed, the letters Mass., and the year in which the fish are packed; 
and shall also, when, in his judgment, it may be necessary, nail in a 
suitable manner any cask iu which fish are packed. 



[365] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Piclded fisli inspected elsewhere not subject to reinspection. Ibid., section 42. 

Pickled fish, duly inspected in the State or country in which it is 
packed, shall not be subject to reinspection in this State. 

Inspection of JisJi pacJced whole. Ibid., 'section 43. 

Small fish, which are usually packed whole with dry salt or pickle, 
shall be put in good casks of the size and materials required in this 
chapter for the packing of split pickled fish, and shall be packed close 
in the cask and well salted ; the casks shall be filled full with the fish 
and salt, and no more salt shall be put with the fish than is necessary 
for their preservation, and the casks containing such whole fish shall be 
branded with the denomination of the fish, and a like designation of the 
qualities as is before prescribed in this chapter in respect to the quali- 
ties of other pickled fish. 

Quality and size of pacT^ages for piclded fish. Ibid., sections .44^, 45. 

Casks used for packing or repacking pickled fish intended for ex- 
portation, except casks containing less than twenty -five pounds weight, 
shall be made of sound, well-seasoned white oak, ash, red oak, spruce, 
pine, or chestnut staves, of rift timber,* sound and well seasoned, with 
heading of either of said kinds of wood, and when of pine such heading 
shall be free from sap and knots, and be planed ; the barrels, half bar- 
rels, and tierces shall be well hooped with at least three good hoops of 
sufficient substance on each bilge, and three hoops of the like quality on 
each chime ; the barrel-staves shall be twenty-eight inches in length, and 
the heads shall be seventeen inches between the chimes ; the barrels shall 
contain not less than twenty-eight nor more than twenty-nine gallons 
each; the half barrels not less than fifteen gallons each; and the tierces 
not less than forty-five nor more than forty-six gallons each. Each cask 
shall be made in a workman-like manner, and branded on its side, near 
the bung, with the name of the maker. 

The inspector-general or his deputies shall strictly examine and in- 
spect all casks in which they may be required to pack fish ; and shall 
reject snch as are not made in a substantial manner and according to 
the provisions of this chapter. 

Fees for inspection of piclded fish. Ibid., sections 46, 47. 

The fees for inspecting and branding, exclusive of cooperage, shall 
be, for each tierce fourteen cents, each barrel nine cents, each half bar- 
rel six cents, each cask of a smaller denomination three cents, and, in 
addition to the fees aforesaid, one cent for each cask nailed as before 
provided ; and all fees shall in the first instance be paid by the original 

* The words " of rift timber " struck out by amendment passed January 30, 1867. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [366] 

owner of the fisli, or by the person employing the inspector, and may 
be recoA^ered by them respectively of the j)erson who afterwards pur- 
chases or exports the same. 

The inspector- general may receive from each of his deputies for every 
cask of fish inspected by him the following fees: For each tierce four 
cents, lor each barrel one cent, for each half barrel,* and all packages 
less than one hundred or more than fifty pounds, one-half cent, and on 
all ijackages of fifty jjounds and less, one-quarter of a cent each. 

Inspection of smoJced alewives or Jierrings. Ibid., sections 48-53. 

Alewives or herrings intended to be packed for sale or exportation, 
shall be sufficiently salted and smoked to cure and preserve the same, 
and afterwards shall bQ closely packed in boxes in clear and dry 
weather. 

Smoked alewives or herrings shall be divided and sorted by the in- 
spector or his deputy, and denominated, according to their quality, 
number one and number two. Number one shall consist of all the largest 
and best cured fish ; number two of the smaller but well-cured fish ; and 
in all cases those which are »belly-broken, tainted, scorched, or burnt, 
slack-salted, or not sufiiciently smoked, shall be taken out as refuse. 

Boxes made for the purpose of x^acking smoked alewives or herrings, 
and containing the same, shall be made of good sound boards, sawed and 
W'Cll seasoned : the sides, top, and bottom of not less than half-inch, 
and the ends of not less than three-quarter inch, boards securely nailed, 
and shall be seventeen inches in length, eleven inches in breadth, and 
six inches in depth, in the clear, inside. 

Each box of alewives or herrings inspected shall be branded on the 
toi) by the inspecting officer with the first letter of his Christian name, 
the whole of his surname, the name of the town where it was inspected, 
with the addition of Mass., and also with the quality of number one or 
number ttco. Herrings taken on the coasts of Nova Scotia, Newfound- 
land, Labrador, or Magdalen Islands, and brought into this State, shall 
also be branded with the name of the place or coast where taken. 

The fees for inspecting, packing, and branding, shall be five cents 
for each box, which shall be paid by the purchaser; and the inspector- 
general may require from his deputies one cent for each box inspected, 
packed, and branded by them. 

Annual report of fish inspected. Ibid., section 53. 

The inspector-general shall, in the month of January, annually, malre 
a return into the office of the secretary of the commonw^ealth, of all the 

*The conclusiou of the section trom the words "half barrel "is given as amended by 
act of April 1, 1879. The Revised Statutes of 1859 conclude the section after the words 
" half barrel," as follows: "half a cent, and for each smaller cask one-quarter of a 
cent." 



[367] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

fish iusi)ectecl by Lim and liis deputies during the year preceding the 
first day of said January, designating the quantities, kinds, and qualities 
of i)ickled and smoked fish, respectively, and distinguishing tlie quanti- 
ties, kinds, and qualities of pickled fish of a first inspection from those 
reiuspected ; and the secretary shall, as soon as may be after receiving 
such returns, cause the same to be published in any newspaper in Bos- 
ton authorized to publish the laws of the commonwealth. 

Fenaliiesfor selling or transporting uninspected Jish. Ibid., sections 54-56. 

No smoked alewives or herrings shall be exported from this State, 
unless inspected and branded as aforesaid, under a penalty of two dol- 
lars for each box exported; nor said alewives or herrings be taken from 
a box, inspected and branded as aforesaid, and replaced by others of an 
inferior quality, wirh intent to defraud any person in the sale of the 
same, under a penalty of five dollars for each box so changed ; provided, 
that all smoked herrings and alewives, arriving from any other State 
in the United States and having been there inspected, may be exported 
in a vessel from this State without being reinspected. 

Pickled or smoked fish, which has not been inspected and branded 
according to the provisions of this chapter, put on board of a boat or 
A^essel, or into a carriage of conveyance, with the intent that the same 
shall be sold within, or exported from, this State, shall be forfeited, and 
the inspector-general or a deputy may seize and libel the same. 

If a master of a vessel or other person puts or receives on board of a 
vessel, or in a carriage of conveyance, for transportation from this State, 
pickled fish, or smoked fish, not inspected and branded as provided in 
this chaptei-, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding ten dollars for every 
hundred pounds of such fish, and in the same proportion for any other 
quantity. 

Penalty for selling tainted or damaged fish for food. Ibid., section 57. 

Whoever sells within this State or exports therefrom tainted or dam- 
aged fish, unless with the intent that the same shall be used for some 
other purpose than as food, shall forfeit the sum often dollars for every 
hundred pounds of such fish, and in the same proj^ortion for any other 
quantity; and ui^on a trial in such case the burden of proof shall be 
upon the defendant to show for what purjjose such fish was so exported 
or sold. 

Penalty for illegally branding. Ibid., section 58. 

If the inspector-general, or a deputy inspector, brands a eask or pack- 
age of fish, the contents of which he has not duly inspected, y^acked, 
salted, or coopered, or permits any other person to use his brands, in 
violation or evasion of the provisions of this chaj)ter, he shall foifeit 
twenty dollars for each ofiense, and be liable to removal from ofQce. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [368J 

Quintal defined. Ibid., section 59. 

When fish are sold by the quintal, it shall be understood to mean a 
quintal of one hundred pounds avoirdupois, and all contracts concern- 
ing fish sold in this manner shall be construed accordingly. 

FacTcing of clam bait. Act of 1867, chap. 347, section 1. 

When clam Ibait is sold by the barrel, it shall be construed to mean a 
fish-barrel of not more than twenty-nine, nor less than twenty-eight 
gallons of clams and not over three gallons of pickle. If a disagree- 
ment arises between the purchaser and seller respecting the quantity 
in a barrel, either j)arty may call on an inspector of fish and have the 
barrel measured; and if it does not contain the aforesaid number of 
gallons of clams, the seller shall receive pay for the number of gallons 
it contains, and shall pay the expense of measuring and coopering, 
otherwise the purchaser shall pay such expense. 

Bight of inspectors to enter premises. Act of April 1, 1879, section 3. 

The inspector-general of fish or some one deputy especially thereto 
authorized by him for that purpose, shall have the right to enter at all 
reasonable times, upon any wharf, and iuto any store, warehouse, or 
other place, where the packing of pickled fish is carried on in this State, 
for the purpose of inspecting, examining, and supervising the packing 
and inspecting of such fish, and to examine and weigh any package of 
such fish, for the purpose of ascertaining if the same are fit for expor- 
tation, in accordance with the requirements of the law. 

RHODE ISLAND. 

(General Statutes of Ehode Island, 1872.) 

Election and qualification of pacl'crs of fish. Chapter 34, sections l;18j 

chapter 102, section 2. 

The electors in each town shall, annually, on their town election days, 
choose and elect * * * one or more packers of fish, * * *. 

Every packer shall give bond to the town treasurer of the town in 
which he shall be appointed, in the sum of one thousand dollars, with 
sufficient surety or sureties, to the satisfaction of such town treasurer, 
for the faithful performance of the duties of his office. 

Duties ofpacJcers offish. Chap. 102, section 1. 

• 

In every town in which pickled fish are packed up for sale or expor- 
tation from the State, the packers of such town shall see that the same 
have been properly pickled; that they are properly repacked in casks, 
iu good shipping order, with good salt, sufficient in each cask to pre- 
serve such fish from damage to any foreign port. 



[369] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

CasJcs to contain only one Mnd offish. Ibid., section 3. 

Pickled fish, whether codfish, mackerel, menhaden, herrings, or other 
fish, shall be sorted, and one kind only be put into one cask. 

Dimensions of caslis J liotc filled ; branding. Ibid., sections 4, 5. 

Every cask shall be well seasoned and bound with twelve hoops; 
those of menhaden and herrings of the capacity to hold twenty-eight 
gallons ; and those for other fish of the capacity, if a barrel, to hold two 
hundred pounds, and if a half barrel, one hundred pounds, weight of 
fish ; each cask to be full, and the fish sound and well cured. 

Every cask, being first searched, examined, and approved by a packer, 
shall, when i^acked or repacked for exportation, be branded legibly ou 
one head with the kind of fish it contains, and the weight thereof; or 
the capacity of the cask, with the first letter of the Christian and the 
whole of the surname of the packer, with the "name of the town, and 
with the words " Ehode Island," in letters not less than three-fourths of 
an inch long, to denote that the same is merchantable and in good or- 
der for exportation. 

Qualities of fish. Ibid., section 6. 

Every cask of jHckled codfish and mackerel offered for sale, or for ex- 
portation from this State, shall also be branded No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3, 
to denote the quality of such fish. 

Fish brought from other States, by fishermen, &g., exceiJted. Ibid., section 7. 

Nothing in this chapter contained shall hinder any fisherman or own- 
ers of fish, coming to this State from their fishing trips, from selling or 
reshipping their fish to any other of the United States without being 
packed into barrels or half barrels. 

Penalty for illegally selling fish. Ibid., section 8. 

Every person who shall offer for sale in or attempt to export from this 
State any pickled fish which have not been approved by a sworn 
packer, or in casks which are not branded as aforesaid, shall forfeit 
fifty dollars for each offense. 

Penalty for illegally jpacldng or branding. Ibid., section 9. 

Every person who shall shift any fish from any cask after the same has 
been branded by the packer, and shall offer to sell or export the same 
from this State, or shall brand any cask into which the same shall be 
shifted, or shall brand any cask with the branding-iron of a packer, or 
with any iron made in imitation thereof, shall forfeit not less than 
thirty dollars nor more than one hundred and sixty dollars for each 
offense. 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [370] 

Penalty for fraud. Ibid., section 10. 

Every packer who shall be guilty of any fraud or neglect in packing 
any fish contrary to this chaj^ter, or shall brand any cask not thorough^ 
examined according to the provisions thereof, shall forfeit fifty dollars 
for each offense. 

Fees of packers offish. Ibid., section 11. 

The packers of fish shall be paid for opening, assorting, inspecting, 
weighing, pickling, packing, or repacking, heading up, nailing, and giv- 
ing a certificate, if pickled codfish or mackerel, twenty cents for every 
barrel, and fifteen cents for every half barrel, by the owner thereof: 
Provided, That for air pickled codfish or mackerel which have been in- 
spected in some one of the United States, and which shall not, in the 
judgment of the packer, require repacking, the said owner shall pay to 
the packer twenty cents only, for unheading, inspecting, reheading, 
branding, nailing, and giving a certificate thereof; and for all other ex- 
cept codfish and mackerel, the owner thereof shall pay the packer 
twenty-five cents for every cask. 

CONNECTICUT. 

(Ee vised Statutes of Connecticut, 1875.) 

Appointment and qualification of inspectors. Title 16, Chapter XV, 

section 17. 

The superior court in the several counties may appoint in each town 
therein not exceeding fifteen inspectors and i^ackers of fish, and shall 
take a bond of every person so appointed, for the faithful discharge of 
his duty, in the sum of one hundred dollars, payable to the county 
treasurer ; and the clerk of said court shall give a certificate of his ap- 
pointment to each inspector, who may exercise the duties of his office in 
any town in such county. 

Pacldng of piclded shad. Ibid., section 18. 

All pickled shad intended for market shall be split and well cleansed 
Sind pickled in strong brine, and shall remain in such brine at least 
:fifteen days before they shall be put up for market, and shall be put up 
in barrels or half barrels, the barrels containing two hundred pounds 
.each, and the half barrels one hundred pounds each, of fish well packed, 
•with a sufficient quantity of salt, and filled with strong brine; and shad 
so put up shall be of three denominations, to wit: Shad number one, to 
■ consist wholly of shad well saved, free from rust or any defect, with the 
;head and tail cut off and the backbone taken out, each barrel to contain 
not more than eighty shad, and each half barrel not more than forty. 
The. second denomination shall be shad number two, to consist wholly 



[371] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

of those well saved, trimmed, pickled, and prepared for packing, in the 
same manner as shad number one, each barrel to contain not more than 
ninety shad, and each half barrel not more than forty-five. The third 
denomination shall be shad number three, to consist of such as will not 
answer for either of the two former numbers, well saved, with the heads 
taken oft"; and every inspector, who shall inspect and brand the same, 
shall designate by each brand the quality, weight, and kind of fish con- 
tained in each barrel and half barrel branded by him, the year when it 
shall have been inspected, in figures, the word "Conn.," and his own 
name and the name of the town where said fish was i^ut up. 

Quality and size offish barrels. Ibid., section 19. 

All barrels and half barrels containing fish shall be well made, of 
good seasoned red oak, white oak, or chestnut timber, and each tierce 
made with twelve hoops ; and each barrel shall be of the capacity of 
from twenty- eight to thirty gallons, and each half barrel of the capacity 
of fifteen gallons and a half. , 

Imported shad not to he inspected. Title 20, Chaj)ter XII, section 10. 

Any inspector of fish who shall inspect or brand any package of shad 
imported into this State shall forfeit five dollars to the State. 

Inspection fees. Title 13, Chapter XXVIII. 

Inspectors shall receive for packing, heading, flagging, i^ickling, and 
branding each barrel of fish, twenty cents, and for each half barrel, ten 
cents. 

Penalty for fraud hy inspectors. Title 20, Chapter XII, section 12. 

Every legally- appointed inspector or packer of fish who shall be guilty 
of any fraud or neglect, for which no other penalty is specifically pre- 
scribed, shall forfeit six dollars for every offense j and every such in- 
spector or packer who shall mark or brand any cask containing fish 
which has not been actually inspected by him, or shall put a false brand 
upon any cask inspected by him, shall forfeit ten dollars. 

Penalties for illegally repacking or exporting. Ibid., sections 13, 14. 

Evry person who, after the inspection and branding of any cask con- 
taining fish, shall fraudulently take out or change any part of the con- 
tents thereof, or put into it any fish not inspected, shall forfeit twenty 
dollars. 

Every person who shall export, or ship for exportation, to any foreign 
port, any fish not put up, inspected, and branded according to law, and 
the master of every vessel, knowingly having on board his vessel any 
such fish not so put up, inspected, and branded, shall forfeit the follow- 



KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [372] 

ing sums : The owner, exporter, or shipper, shall forfeit six dollars for 
every cask containing fish ; and every master of a vessel shall forfeit 
for every such cask on board, three dollars ; but fish brought from an- 
other State, and inspected and branded in the State in which they were 
init up for market, conformably to its laws, and accompanied with such 
evidence thereof as such laws require, may be exported from this State 
without any reinspection. 

53. EEPEALED LAWS. 

MAINE. ■ 

Until the year 1820, Maine was a province of Massachusetts and sub- 
ject to the same laws, but in that year the province became a separate 
State and made its own laws. The fish inspection laws enacted by the 
State of Maine were very similar to those of the mother State. The 
first law was approved March 22, 1821, and is entitled "An act to pro- 
vide for the packing of pickled and smoked fish." It reads as follows : 

Appointment and qualification of inspectors. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and Mouse of Representatives in Legislature 
assembled, That the governor, with the advice of council, is hereby 
authorized and directed to appoint and commission, during his pleasure, 
in each town and i^lantation in this State where pickled fish or smoked 
alewives and herrings are cured or packed for the purpose of exporta- 
tion, one or more suitable person or persons inspector or inspectors of 
pickled fish and smoked alewives and herrings, who shall be well skilled 
in the quality of the same, and who, before he enters on the duties of 
his office, shall be sworn to the faithful discharge thereof, and shall 
give bond with sufficient sureties to the treasurer of the town or plan- 
tation in which he is appointed, in the penal sum of not less than five 
hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, for the faithful perform- 
ance of the duties of his office. And the selectmen of towns and 
assessors of plantations, in which such inspectors shall be appointed, 
shall annually examine the bonds given as aforesaid, and if the bond of 
any such inspector shall by them be considered insufficient, they shall 
forthwith notify such inspector of the same, and if any inspector shall 
for thirty days after such notice neglect to give bond as aforesaid to 
the satisfaction of such selectmen or assessors, it shall be their duty to 
give information thereof to the governor, who siiall remove such inspec- 
tor and appoint some other person to such office. And any person 
injured by the neglect or misdoings of any such inspector shall be en- 
titled to a copy of such bond, and shall have a right to bring an action 
thereon in the name of such treasurer for his own use and benefit } and 
on producing the original in court and obtaining judgment thereon, 
execution shall issue for such sum only as shall be found due in dam- 
ages to the person for whose use any such action shall be brought ; and 



[373] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

the amount thereof being entered by the clerk of the court on the origi- 
nal bond, the same may be delivered back (by leaving a copy) to the 
treasurer from whom the same was received. 

Material and sizes of caslcs for picJded fish. 

2. Be it further enacted, That all barrels, half barrels and tierces 
which shall be made or used for the purpose of packing, or containing 
pickled fish, shall be made sound of well- seasoned white oak, ash, red 
oak, spruce, pine, or chestnut staves, of rift timber, with heading of 
either of the said kinds of wood, sound, well-seasoned and the pine 
heads free from sap : eaid heading to be well planed ; the barrels, half- 
barrels and tierces to be well hooped, with at least three hoops on each 
bilge and three hoops on each chime, all of which shall be good hoops 
of sufficient substance, the barrel staves to be twenty-eight inches in 
length, and the heads to be seventeen inches between the chimes ; and 
to contain not less than twenty-iune nor more than thirty gallons; and 
barrels, half- barrels and tierces shall be t>randed on the side of the cask 
near the bung with the name of the maker or owner of said cask, and 
shall be made, in a workmanlike manner, to hold pickle; the half barrels 
to contain not less than fifteen gallons, and the tierces to contain not 
less than forty-five nor more than forty-six gallons : Provided, hoivever, 
That nothing ooutained in this act, shall extend to fish packed in kegs 
of less than ten gallons. 

Material and size of hoxes for smolced fish. 

3. Be it further enacted, That all boxes which shall be made for the pur- 
pose of packing smoked alewives or herrings and containing the same, 
shall be made of good soundboards, sawed and well seasoned, the sides, 
top, and bottom of not less than half-inch boards, and the ends not less 
than three-quarters of inch boards, securely nailed with not less than 
eight sixpenny nails, and sixteen fourpenny nails to each box, and the 
top of each box to be planed, and shall be seventeen inches in length, 
eleven inches in breadth, and six inches in depth in the clear, inside. 
And all alewives or herrings intended to be smoked and packed shall 
be sufficiently salted and smoked to cure and jDreserve the same ; and 
afterwards closely packed in the boxes, in clear and dry weather. 

Qualities of picTded fish. Branding. 

4. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the inspector to see 
the salmon, mackerel, shad, and all other kinds of split pickled fish, or 
fish for barrelling, have been well struck with salt or pickle in the first 
instance, and preserved sweet, free from rust, taint or damage. And 
such fish as are in good order, and are of a good quality, shall be packed 
in tierces, barrels or half barrels ; the tierces shall contain three hun- 
dred pounds, the barrels shall contain two hundred jDounds, and the 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [374] 

halibarrels one hundred pounds of fisli eacli; and the same shall be 
packed with thirty-five pounds of good and clean coarse salt, suitable 
for the purpose, to each barrel; and said casks after being packed and 
headed up with the fish and sufBcient salt to preserve the same, shall 
be filled up with a clear strong pickle, and shall be branded salmon, 
mackerel, shad (or as the case may be) ; those of the best quality, caught 
in the right season, to be most approved and free from damage, shall be 
branded Cargo No. 1 ; those which remain after the best have been se- 
lected, being sweet and free from taint, rust or damage, shall be branded 
Cargo No. 2 ; and there shall be a third quality, which shall consist of 
the thinnest and poorest of those that are sweet and wholesome, which 
shall be branded Cargo No. 3. And the inspector shall also brand in 
j>lain legible letters on the head of each and every cask, in which in- 
spected merchantable fish or whole fish are packed or repacked, the 
weight, and initials of his Christian name, with his surname at large, the 
name of the town for which he is appointed, and the word "Maine" an- 
nexed; and each cask shall be filled with fish of one and the same kind ; 
and if any person shall intermix, take out or shift any inspected fish 
which are packed and branded as aforesaid, or put in other fish for sale 
or exportation contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, he or 
they shall forfeit and pay fifteen dollars for each and every i)ackage so 
altered : Provided., however., if any casualty shall render it necessary to 
repack a cask of inspected fish, it may in all cases be done by an in- 
spector of such fish. And if any person shall sell or export or cause to 
be sold or exported, within or from this State, any tainted or damaged 
fish, he shall forfeit and pay ten dollars for every hundred weight that 
shall be thus sold or exported. 

Facliing and branding of codfish., halibut^ &g. 

5. Be it further enacted., That all codfish, haddock, hake, pollock, and 
halibut, pickled, and hereafter offered for sale, shall be packed in casks 
of the contents required by the second section of this act, each barrel 
to contain two hundred and twenty-five pounds, and each half barrel to 
contain one huadred and twelve and a half pounds, agreeably to the 
rules of i)acking in the fourth section of this act, with sufficient salt to 
preserve the same. And it shall be the duty of the inspectors to brand 
with plain and legible figures, the weight of the aforesaid five kinds of 
fish, in addition to the brands required by the fourth section of this act. 

Packing and branding of small fish. 

6. Be it further enacted, That all small fish which are usually packed 
whole with dry salt, shall be put in good casks of the size and mate- 
rials mentioned in the second section of this act; said fish shall be 
packed close in the cask, and well salted; the casks shall be filled full 
with the fish and salt, putting no more salt with the fish than is neces- 



[375] HISTOEY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

sary for tlieir preservation; and the inspector sliall brand all casks con- 
taining- such inspected whole fish with the name of the fish, and the 
quality as described in the fourth section of this act. 

Inspection of smolced alewives or herring. 

7. Be it further enacted. That all smoked alewives or herrings shall 
be divided and sorted by the inspector, and denominated, according to 
their quality, first sort and second sort; the first sort shall consist of 
all the largest and best cured fish, of not less than eight inches long; 
second sort, of the smaller but well cured fish, of not less than seven 
inches long; and in all cases the following shall be taken out as refuse: 
all those which are belly-broken, tainted, scorched, or burnt, slack- 
salted, or not sufficiently smoked. And each box of alewives or her- 
rings so insi^ected shall be branded on the top, by the inspecting officer, 
with the first letter of the Christian name and the surname at length 
of the inspector who inspected the same; and in like manner the name 
of the owner thereof, with the name of the town where it was inspected, 
with the addition of "Maine," and also with the quality of first sort or 
second sort. 

Certificate required for shipment of piclded and smolced fish. 

8. Be it further enacted, That no pickled fish in casks, and no smoked 
alewives or herrings in boxes, shall be exported from this State by water, 
unless the master or owner of the vessel shall produce to the collector 
or other officer authorized by the United States to clear out vessels, a 
certificate from the inspector that the same has been inspected, packed, 
and branded according to the directions of this act; and the certificate 
shall express the number of barrels, half barrels, and tierces, and the 
number of boxes thus shipped, the kind and quality of the fish they 
contain, with the name of the master and owner, and the name of the 
vessel in which such fish are received for exportation. And such mas- 
ter or owner of every vessel shall take and subscribe the following oath 
or affirmation before the officer authorized as aforesaid : 

I, A B, do swear, (or affirm as the case may be), according to the best 
of my knowledge and belief, that the certificate hereunto annexed, con- 
tains the whole quantity of pickled and barreled fish and smoked ale- 
wives and herrings on boaid the , master; and that no fish, 

smoked alewives or herrings are shipped on board said vessel, for the 
ship's company, or on freight or cargo, but what are inspected and 
branded according to the laws of this State. So help me God : or this 
I do under the pains and penalties of perjury (as the case may be). 

Shipment of uninspected fish. 

9. Be it further enacted, That if any pickled or barreled fish, or any 
smoked fish shall be put on board of any boat, vessel, or carriage of con 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [376] 

veyance, within this State, with intent to sell or export the same, unless 
said fish shall have been inspected and the casks and boxes containing 
the same shall have been branded agreeably to the provisions of this act, 
it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace in the same county, upon 
complaint made to him, to issue his warrant to the sheriff or his dep- 
uty, or to any constable of the town where such boat, vessel, or carriage 
of conveyance may be, requiring them respectively to seize and secure 
said fish, and carry the same to the inspector nearest the place where 
said boat, vessel, or carriage may be; and said inspector is hereby 
authorized and required to ojien and inspect and to pack and brand 
the same in the same manner as is prescribed in this act. And it shall 
be lawful for said inspector to detain the said fish until the exx)enses 
and charges of seizure, inspection, j)acking, and all other charges arising 
from such seizure, shall be j)aid. And it shall be the duty of every per- 
son, when required, to give necessary aid to the officer having such war 
rant, on pain of forfeiting five dollars for his refusal, to be reco veered by 
action of debt, or on the case, before any court proper to fery the same; 
and by any person who will prosecute therefor. 

Inspection of imported piclded and smo'ked fisli. 

10. Be it further enacted, That no pickled or smoked fish, which shall 
be brought into this State from any other State or government, shall 
be sold or offered for sale before the same shall have been regularly in- 
spected according to the provisions of this act; and each and every 
person who buy or sell, or offer for sale [any] pickled or smoked fish 
which shall be brought into this State from any other State or govern- 
ment, before the same is regularly inspected as aforesaid, shall severally 
forfeit and pay five dollars for each and every hundred pounds' weight 
so bought or sold; to be recovered by any person who shall prosecute 
for the same, by action of debt, or on the case, before any court proper 
to try the same. 

Penalty for liandling uninspected fish. 

11. Be it further enacted^ That if any master of a vessel, or other per- 
son, shall put or receive on board any vessel or other carriage or con- 
veyance to transport the same from this State, any pickled or whole 
fish packed in casks which are not inspected or branded in manner by 
this act prescribed, he or they, on conviction, shall forfeit and pay not 
less than five dollars nor more than ten dollars for each and every hun- 
dred pounds of such uninspected fish. 

Penalty for exporting uninspected smolced fish. 

12. Be it further enacted, That no smoked alewives or herrings which 
shall not have been inspected and branded agreeably to the provisions 
of this act shall be exported from this State, under a penalty of two 



[377] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

dollars for each box so exported; nor sliall any alewives or herrings be 
taken from any box so inspected and branded and others of an inferior 
quality be put in their place, with intent to deceive or defraud any per- 
son in the sale of the same, under a penalty of five dollars for each box 
so changed. 

Penalty for illegal branding. 

13. Be it further enacted, That if the inspector shall brand any cask, 
the contents of which he has not inspected, packed, salted, and coop- 
ered, or any boxes of smoked alewives or herrings which he has not in- 
spected, packed, and nailed, according to the true intent and meaning 
of this act, or if he shall permit other persons to use his brands in viola- 
tion or evasion thereof, he or they so offendiug, shall forfeit and pay, 
for every cask and box so branded, the sum of twentj^ dollars. 

Branding-irons. Fish for home consumption, etc. 

14. Be it further enacted, That all persons within this State who shall 
have fish for ijacking and pickling, either in bulk or in casks, to the 
amount of twenty barrels in one season, shall furnish the inspector 
with a branding-iron, containing the first letter of the owner's Chris- 
tian name and his surname at large, and the inspector shall cause the 
names of such owners to be fairly branded on the head of every cask 
of their inspected fish ; aud if any such owner of fish shall refuse or 
neglect to furnish such brand he shall forfeit and pay for such neglect and 
refusal not less than five dollars nor more than twentj^ dollars ; and all 
kinds of pickled fish which are packed in tierces, barrels, or half barrels 
for consumption within this State, and which are not subject to be in- 
spected and branded as provided for exportation, shall, however, be 
packed with only one kind of fish in each cask, and there shall be the 
same weight in each cask as is ];)rovided by the fourth section of this 
act; and for intermixing different kinds of fish in the same cask, or for 
short weight in any cask, the owners or venders shall be subjected to 
the same penalties and forfeitures as are provided by this act for the 
like offense in the inspected pickled fish. 

Disposition of penalties. 

15. Be it further enacted, That all penalties and forfeitures arising by 
force and virtue of this act, except the penalties of five dollars men- 
tioned in the ninth and tenth sections of this act, shall be recovered by 
action of debt in any court proper to try the same ; one moiety thereof 
for the use of the town or plantation wherein the offense shall be com- 
mitted, and the other moiety to him or them who shall sue for the 

same. 

Payment of fees. 

16. Be it further enacted, That the charges for certificates, inspecting, 
aud branding shall be paid by the exporter or purchaser, in addition to 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [378] 

the purchase or cost of the fish ; and bills for the legal fees of inspec- 
tion and certificates shall, in the first instance, be paid by the original 
owner of said fish, or by the person employing the inspector ; and all 
such owners or employers arehereby empowered to demand and recover 
the amount of said bills from the subsequent purchaser or exi)orter. 

Inspectors now in office. 

17. Be it further enacted, That the inspector and his deputies, legally 
appointed and now in of&ce, shall continue to hold and enjoy their 
respective offices until the tenth day of April next. 

Inspectors to give bonds. 

18. Be it further enacted, That every inspector of fish appointed in this 
State shall, on being qualified for such office, pay to the treasurer of 
the town or plantation in which he shall reside five dollars ; and it shall 
be the duty of such treasurers to pay over all moneys so received to the 
treasurer of this State on or before the twentieth day of January an- 
nually. 

Inspection fees. 

19. Be it further enacted, That the inspectors shall be paid for each cer- 
tificate for exportation seventeen cents, and for inspecting and branding 
each and every cask of fish, as directed by this act; for each tierce ten 
cents, for each barrel seven cents, for each half barrel four cents, for 
each box of smoked herrings or alewives two cents, exclusive of the 
labor and expense of packing and coopering; and the fees for inspecting 
and the expense for packing and coojjering shall be jDaid by the seller. 



The following act additional to the preceding law was passed January 
Inspection ofsmoTced herrings. 



29, 1822 



Be it enacted, &c., That, from and after the passing of this act, the 
several inspectors of fish in this State shall be authorized to inspect 
smoked herrings, scaled and cured in a superior manner, and packed 
in boxes eighteen inches long, nine inches wide, and seven inches deep 
in the clear, which boxes shall be made and branded on the cover, in 
the same manner as other boxes for herring are now made and branded, 
excepting that, instead of first or second sort, the word scaled shall be 
inserted. And the inspection and exportation of said herrings shall be 
subject to the same laws and regulations as are prescribed by law for 
other herrings. 

On February 8, 1822, the following law was passed : 

Inspection in places where no inspector resides. 

Be it enacted, &c.. That where it shall be necessary to have fish in- 
spected in any town or plantation where no inspector resides, it shall 



[379] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

be lawful for any inspector within the county to iusj)ect and brand the 
same in such town or plantation. 

The following law was passed February 25, 1824 : 

Inspection of imported fish. 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c.^ That all butter, lard ; pickled, dry, or 
smoked fish, beef, and pork, or other salted provisions that may have 
been inspected in any other of the United States, may be exported from 
any x)ort in this State to any foreign port without its being subject to 
reiuspection, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The following law passed February 2, 1828 : 
Inspection of sJiad. 

Be it enacted, by the senate and house of representatives, in legislature 
assembled, That, from and after the x>assing of this act, it -shall be the 
duty of the several inspectors of fish in this state to brand shad bar- 
relled as specified in the fourth section of an act, passed the twenty- 
second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, as 
follows, viz: Those of the best quality, caught in the right season, to 
be most approved and free from damage, having their tails cut off and 
back bones out, shall be branded " Cargo Mess^^; those which remain 
after the best have been selected, being sweet and free from taint, rust, 
or damage, with their back bones in, and tails on, shall be branded 
"Cargo No. 1"; and there shall be a third quality, which shall consist 
of the thinnest and poorest of those that are sweet and wholesome, whicb 
shall be branded" Cargo No. 2"; anything contained in any act to which 
this is additional, to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The following additional law regulating the inspection of smoked 
herring was passed February 12, 1831 : 

1. Be it enacted, &c., That from and after the passage of this act, the 
several inspectors of fish in this state shall be authorized to inspect 
smoked herring scaled and packed in boxes eighteen inches long, nine 
Inches wide, and seven inches deep in the clear, which boxes shall be 
made (except as to dimensions) in the manner provided by law for 
pickled and smoked fish, and in addition to the brand now required by 
law, there shall be branded upon the cover of said boxes, first sort, or 
second sort scaled herring (as the quality may require), first sort to be not 
less than eight inches long, and second sort not less than six inches and 
a half long, and cured in a superior manner. 

2. Beit further enacted, That the inspection and exportation of said her- 
rings shall be subject to the same regulations as are prescribed by law 
for pickled and smoked fish, and that the act passed Jauuar^^ twenty- 
ninth, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty- 
two, entitled " An act in addition to an act to provide for the packing 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [380] 

and inspection of pickled and smoked fish," be and the same is hereby 
repealed. 

The Massachusetts inspection laws passed in 1810, provided for the 
appointment of an inspector-general of pickled and smoked fish. This 
law applied to the province of Maine until the separation in 1820. The 
new law then passed by Maine did not require an inspector-general, 
but provided for the appointment of inspectors in the several fishing 
towns of the Slate. This method of inspection continued until March 
14, 1862, when the following law was passed : 

Appointment and duties of inspector-general and deputies. 

1. The governor with advice of the council shall appoint an inspector- 
general of fish, removable at j^leasure, who shall be commissioned for a 
period not exceeding two years, and he shall be sworn and give bond 
with sulficient sureties in the sum of six thousand dollars to the treas- 
urer of state for the faithful discharge of his duties before entering 
thereon. 

2. The inspector-general shall appoint one or more deputies in every 
town in this state where pickled fish or smoked herrings and alewives 
are cured or packed for exportation, who shall be responsible for their 
neglect or misconduct while acting under him, and when the office of 
inspector-general becomes vacant, they may continue to discharge the 
duties of the office until a successor is appointed, and they shall be ac- 
countable to the state. 

3. Every deputy shall be sworn by the inspector-general or by a jus- 
tice of the peace, and give bond to the inspector- general with sureties 
to his satisfaction for the faithful performance of his duty, and the bond 
shall be so expressed as to enure to the use of the state for the time the 
deputy exercises his duties during a vacancy in the office of inspector- 
general. 

4. Each deputy shall pay to the inspector-general one dollar, as an 
excise fee for his bond and commission, and the inspector- general may 
receive from each of his deputies for every cask of pickled fish inspected 
by him the following fees : For each tierce, four cents ] for each barrel, 
one cent ; and every smaller package, one-half cent. 

5. The inspector-general shall, in the month of January annually, make 
a return into the office of secretary of state, of all the fish inspected by 
him and his deputies during the year preceding the first day of said 
January, designating the quantities, kinds, and qualities of pickled and 
smoked fish respectively, and the secretary shall publish the same, as 
soon after as may be, in the state paper, and the inspector-general may 
require returns of his deputies as often as he sees fit. 

6. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby re- 
pealed. 



[381] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

On March 24, 1864, the following amendment to the fish inspection 
laws was approved : 

Inspection of maclcerel. 

1. Chapter forty, section five, of the Ee vised Statutes is hereby 
amended by striking out all in said section after the word " therein " 
in the thirteenth line, and inserting mackerel of the best quality, not 
mutilated, measuring not less than thirteen inches from the extremity 
of the head to the crotch of or fork of the tail, free from rust, taiot, or 
damage, shall be branded number one. The next best quality, being 
not less than eleven inches, measuring as aforesaid, free from rust, taint, 
or damage, shall be branded number two. Those that remain after the 
above selections, free from taint or damage, and not less than thirteen 
inches, measuring as aforesaid, shall be branded number three large. 
Those of the next inferior quality, free from taint or damage, not less 
than ten inches in length, as aforesaid, shall be branded number three. 
All other mackerel free from taint or damage shall be branded number 
three small. The inspectors shall also brand in plain letters on the head 
of every such cask the weight, the initials of his Christian and the whole 
of his surname, the name of his town, and the letters Me., an abridge- 
ment of the month, and the year, in figures when packed. The inspector- 
general of fish shall have no interest, directly or indirectly, in the cure 
or packing of pickled fish. 

Tenn of office of inspector-general lengthened. 

2. Chapter ninety-nine, section one, of the public laws of eighteen hun- 
dred and sixty-two is hereby amended by striking out the word " two" 
and and inserting _^ ye. 

3. This act shall take effect when approved by the governor. 

The present fish inspection laws of Maine were passed February 10, 
1875, and abolish the office of inspector-general, which was created in 
1862. Each fishing port is now provided with its own inspectors. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Various inspection laws regulating the packing of pickled fish have 
been in force in Massachusetts since early colonial days. The following 
law was passed in May, 1651 : 

Att a Gennerall Courte of Eleccons, held at Boston, 7th May, 1651. 

For preventing the deceipt of any person in packing of fish, beife 
and porke to be putt to salie in this and other jurisdictions, itt is 
therefore ordered by this Courte and the authoritje thereof, that in 
every towne w'^^in this jurisdicon where any such goods are packed up 
for sale, the gager of that tonne, or of the tonne wherein it is putt to 
sale, or shipt, shall see that it be well and orderly performed, that is to 
say, beife and i)orke, the whole halfe or quarter together, and so pro- 
portionably, and the best be not left out ; and for fish, that they bepackt 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [382] 

all of one kind, and that all caske so i)ackt, be full, and sound and well 
seasoned setting his seale on all caske so packt, for which he shall 
receive of the owners, for so packing and sealing, fower shillings p 
tunne ; but if the gager do only veiw them, and find them good and 
sufficjent, he shall set his seale vppon them, and have one shilling p 
tunne for so doing; and if such goods so packt shall be put to sale 
packt vp in caske without the gagers marke, he shall forfeite the said 
goods so put to sale, one-half to the informer, the other to the countje 
treasury, and whereas notw^*^standiug the former law provided, tit. 
caske and coopers, page the sixth, much damage is still sustained by 
marchants and men of trade, through insufficiencie and vendue assize 
of caske, itt is therefore further ordered by the authorytie of this 
courte, that wheresoever any new caske are found put to sale being de- 
fective either in workmanship, timber, or assize, as in that law is pro- 
vided vppon due proofe made before any one magistrate, the said caske 
shall be forfeited to the informer, and the workmen for his default shall 
pay tenn shillings a tunn forthwith, to the use of the countye and so 
proportionable to any greater or lesser caske; and becawse there may be 
no neglect in the choice of a gager to prevent the abuses in this or any 
other lawe exprest, itt is further ordered by the authorytie aforesajd, 
the every toune within this jurisdiccon wherein any caske are made shall 
yecrely make choice of one fitt man for that worke and imploiment, 
who, being presented by the constable within one weeke after the 
choice made, before any one magistrate, shall take the oath belonging 
to his place, which if he shall refuse, he shall pay the soiue of forty 
shillings, and another to be chosen in his roome; as also the toune or 
constable shall either of them suffer the like poenaltie for the neglect 
of this order, any other lawe, custome or order to the contrary notwith- 
standing. — (Eecords of Massachusetts, Vol. IV, Part I, p. 39.) 

In 1652 another law was passed as follows : 

Att the second Sessions of the Generall Court, held at Boston, the 
19th of Oct. 1652. 

Vppon sundry information of sundry abuses which may arise, and 
thereby reproach redound to the countrje, by packing of beife, porke 
in caske that is not full gage, although the packer doe carefully till the 
same, as the lawe provides, it is therefore ordered by this Courte: that 
henceforth every packer shall see that all caske he packs any beife, 
pork mackerill, tish or any other goods in comitted to his care, be of 
true and full asize and gage, and that he packes the same in no other 
caske whatsoever on penaltie of tenn shillings for every caske by him 
packed that is or shall be defective in that respect, one halfe to the in- 
former, and the other half to the countrie. This order to be the next 
day published, and posted vp in Boston and Charles Toune, and, by 
the first opportunitie, in Salem and Ipswich. 

The oath for packers of beife &c — 

Whereas, you AB, are chosen a packer of beife porke and other 



[383] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

thing:s for the toune of B:, you doe here sweare by the living God that 
you will well and truely packe, all beife, porke, and other things when 
you shall be thereunto required; you shall packe no kinde of goods 
but such as are good and sound nor any goods in any caske that is not 
of a just and full gage; you shall also sett your i>articular marke vpon 
all caske packed by you; and in all things propper to the j)! ace of a 
packer you shall faithfully discharge the same, from tjme to tjme, ac- 
cording to your best judgment & conscjence, So heipe you God. — (Rec- 
ords of Massachusetts, Vol. IV, Part I, page 105.) 
The following law was passed November 8, 1692 : 

AN ACT for regulating the assize of cask, and preventing deceit iu packing of fish, 

beef, and pork for sale. 

Be it ordained and enacted by tJie Governour, Council and^ Representatives 
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same. 

Sec. I. That from and after the first day of December nest, all sorts 
and kinds of tight cask used for any liquor, fish, beef, pork, or any other 
commodities within this, their majesties' province, shall be of London 
assize; puncheons, eighty-four gallons ; hogsheads, sixty-three gallons; 
tearses, forty-two gallons ; barrels, thirty-one gallons and a half ; and 
made of sound, well-seasoned timber, and free from sap. And that fit 
persons be appointed, from time to time, in all places needful to view 
and gage all such cask ; and such as shall be found of due assize shall 
be marked with the gager's mark, who shall have for his pains four 
pence per tunn ; and every cooper shall set his distinct, brand-mark on 
his own cask, on penalty of forty shillings. And whosoever shall put to 
sale any new cask, being defective either in workmanship, timber, or 
assize, as aforesaid, upon proof thereof, made before one justice of the 
peace, he shall forfeit such cask and be fined forty shillings. 

And be it further enacted [Sect. 2], That the justices of the peace, at 
their first general quarter sessions, to be holden iu each respective 
county within this province, shall yearly, in every town needful thereof, 
choose and appoint a fit person or persons to be gagers and packers, 
and then to swear to the due execution of their office ; which, if any per- 
son so appointed shall refuse, he shall pay the sum of forty shillings, and 
another shall be chosen and appointed in his stead. And every gager 
and packer shall take care that all cask in which he packs beef, pork, 
mackerel, fish, or other goods committed to his care, be of true and full 
assize, and that he pack the same in no other cask whatsoever, on pen- 
alty of ten shillings for every cask by him packed, that is or shall be de- 
fective in that respect. And if any of the before mentioned provisions 
shall be packed into half barrels or firkins, the same shall be made in 
proportion to the assize aforesaid, and be marked by the packer. 

And for the preventing of fraud and deceit in the packing of pickled 
fish, beef, and pork to be put for sale, 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [384] 

Be it further enacted [Sect. 3], That in every town where such goods 
are i)acked up for sale, the gager or packer of snch town, or of the 
town wherein they are put to sale or shipped, shall see that it be well 
and orderly performed; that is to say, beef and pork, the whole half and 
quarter, and so proportionably that the best be not left out ; and so fish 
and mackerel, that they be packed all of one kind ; and that all casks 
so packed be full, and the fish sound and well seasoned, setting his seal 
on all casks so packed ; and he shall receive of the owners for so pack- 
ing ancl sealing, four shillings per ton. And if any such provisions be 
put to sale or shipped off without the i)acker's mark, they shall be for- 
feited. 

[Sect. 4.] And it is further enacted., That all sorts of green or pickled 
fish, sturgeon, or flesh that shall be put up for transportation to a foreign 
market shall be searched, surveyed, and approved by a sworn packer, 
who shall take strict care that the »same be put in tight cask of full 
gage, salted with suitable salt. And such as shall be so saved, and for 
its condition found merchantable and full, the packer shall seal with such 
brand-mark as shall be assigned to the town, and such other cut-mark 
added as may denote the sort of provision and the time when packed. 
And all such other provisions as the packer shall find wholesome and 
useful, though for its quality it be not merchantable, he shall cause to 
be well iiacked, salted, filled, and sealed with the letter R, and such 
other letters as may signifie the town, specie, and time of packing. 
And if any master of a ship or other vessel, or any officers or mariners 
belonging thereto, shall receive such provisions not marked and sealed, 
as aforesaid, aboard any of their ships or vessels, he or they who shall 
offend thei-ein, shall forfeit double the value of all such provisions; and 
he that owns the provisions shall forfeit the same. And if any cooper 
or other person shall shift any fish or flesh, either on board or on shore, 
after the same has been so sealed and marked by the packer, and ship 
and export the same, the packer having not allowed thereof, and anew 
sealed and marked the cask whereinto such provisions are shifted, all 
persons acting, ordering or assisting therein, shall be set in the pillory, 
not exceeding one hour, and shall likewise pay double damages to per- 
sons wronged thereby. 

And it is further enacted [Sec. 5], That when any such provisions 
have lain above three months under the packer's mark, betwixt the 
months of May and October, they shall again, upon exportation or sale, 
be viewed or searched by the packer; that is to say, so many of them 
as may probalily discover the condition of the whole; and if any be 
decayed or deceitfully dealt with, the packer shall cull and repack the 
same, so as to distinguish and mark them for merchantable or refuse, 
according to their condition. And if those who ship or export any such 
provision shall neglect or refuse such second search or survey, the 
packer is hereby ordered and impowered to deface his former mark, and 
for so doing shall be paid as if he had repackt the same. And if the 



[385] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

owner refuse to satisfle the packer, such jiacker shall have redress on 
complaint to any justice of the peace, who is hereby impowered to com- 
pel the payment thereof by distress. 

[Sec. 7.*] That all fines, penalties, and forfeitures, arising by force 
and virtue of this act, shall be the one-half to their majesties toward the 
support of the government of this province, and the other hnlf to him 
or them that shall inform and sue for the same in any of their majestie's 
courts of record within this province. 

Be it further enacted [Sec. 8], That there be a measurer of salt and 
culler of fish in every seaport town within this province, to be appointed 
as aforesaid, who being likewise sworn for the faithful discharge of that 
office, shall cull all merchantable fish and measure all salt that shall 
be imported and sold out of any ship or other vessel, and shall liave 
three half-pence for every hogshead of salt by him so measured, to be 
paid, the one-half by the buyer, the other half by the seller. And one 
penny per quintal for every quintal of merchantable fish by him culled, 
to be paid, one-half by the buyer and the other half by the seller. (Acts 
and resolves of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Vol. 1, 1G92-1714, 
p. 49.) 

Between the years 1692 and 1784 various other laws similar to the 
preceding were enacted. A comprehensive law w^as passed on No- 
vember 9, 1784, by which the selectmen of the town, in the common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, were authorized to choose and appoint search- 
ers and packers of dry and pickled fish designed for exportation from 
the State. In this law it is provided that each barrel of pickled fish 
must contain a sufficient quantity of salt for their preservation ; that 
mackerel and other barrelled fish be packed all of one kind and in casks 
well seasoned, containing not less than thirty gallons, and the casks be 
full and properly branded with the name of the fish therein. 

The law of March C, 1810, which repealed all previous enactments 
on the same subject is a very minute and important cne. It provides 
for the appointment of an inspector-general and deputy inspectors. The 
former is required to give bonds to the treasurer of the State for the 
faithful discharge of his duties. The deputies must give bonds to the 
inspector- general, and he is held responsible for them. In this law we 
find the qualities of fish more definitely described than in earlier laws. 
The section on this subject requires that barrels containing pickled fisk 
"shall be branded salmon, mackerel, shad (or as the case maybe); 
those of the best quality, caught in the right season, to be most ap- 
proved and free from damage, shall be branded Cargo No. 1 ; those 
which remain after the best have been selected, being sweet and free 
from taint, rust, or damage, shall be branded. Cargo No. 2 ; and there 
shall be a third quality, which shall consist of the thinnest and poorest 
of those that are sweet and wholesome, shall be branded. Cargo No. 3; 
and the inspector shall also brand in plain, legible letters, on the head 
* Section 6 refers to the packing of tar. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF. FISH AND FISHERIES. [386] 

of each and every cask in which inspected, merchantable fish, or whole 
fish are packed, or repacked, the initials of his Christian name, with 
his surname at large, the name of the town for which he is appointed, 
and Mass. annexed for Massachusetts. * * *." 

The act. passed by the Massachusetts legislature March 28, 1834, 
says: 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the inspector-general, or his deputies, 
shall not be required to brand upon the casks in which mackerel may 
hereafter be packed, the owner's name, nor the word "cargo." 

Sec. 2. That the second and fifth sections of the act passed March 
foiirteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, entitled "An act 
in addition to several acts regulating the inspection of pickled fish," are 
hereby repealed. 

Sec. 3. That the inspector- general, or his deputies, shall brand upon 
every cask of mackerel inspected by him or them the year in which the 
same is packed ; and upon all No. 3 mackerel, that are usually denomi- 
nated southern or Block Island mackerel, and all others of a similar 
quality and descrij)tion the word "South"; and upon all other jSTo. 3 
mackerel, the word " ISTorth." Provided, however, that the inspectors 
shall receive no additional compensation therefor. 

Sec. 4. That it shall be the duty of the inspector-general, or his dep- 
uties, when mackerel are presented to him or them for inspection, to 
select those of the best quality, and such as are fit for family use, for 
'No. 1 ; those of the next best quality, being fat, free from damage, of 
suitable size, and not cut or mutilated in any manner for the purpose of 
deception, for No. 2; and all others for No. 3, and to brand the casks in 
which they are packed, accordingly. 

Sec. 5. That all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions 
of this act, are hereby repealed. 

The Eevised Statutes of 1835, in defining the qualities of pickled fish, 
say : 

"There shall be four qualities of mackerel, three of salmon and shad, 
and two of other kinds of pickled fish ; those mackerel of best quality 
for family use, not mutilated, of suitable size," free from rust or damage, 
shall be number one and number two, the best of those selected and 
branded number one, the residue number tico; those remaining after 
this selection, of usual size, free from taint, and sound, shall be branded 
number three; and those of this number that are of the descrijjtion 
called Block Island mackerel shall also be branded with the word 
south; all small-size mackerel, free from taint, and sound, remaining 
after the above selections, shall be branded number four; those salmon 
and shad which are of the best quality for family use, free from rust or 
damage, shall be selected for number one and number two, the best of 
them selected and branded number one, the residue number two; all that 
remain, free from taint and sound, shall be branded number three; of 
all other pickled fish the best, such as are free of taint and damage. 



[387] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

sliall be branded mnnher one; those that remain free from taint, and 
sound, number ttvoP 

The act of March 31, 1846, defines the grades of mackerel under four 
numbers, and reads as follows: 

"Sec. 1. From and after the passing of this act tliere shall be four 
numbers of mackerel: Those of the best quality, not mutilated, meas- 
uring not less thaa thirteen inches from the extremity- of the head to 
^the crotch or fork of the tail, free from rust, taint, or damage, shall be 
branded number one. The next best quality, being not less than eU ven 
inches, measuring as aforesaid, free from rust, taint, or damage, shall 
be branded number two. Those, that remain after the above selec- 
tions, if free from taint or damage, and not less than thirteen inches, 
measuring as aforesaid, shall be branded number three large. Those 
of the next inferior quality, free from taint or damage, not less than 
ten inches in length, as aforesaid, shall be branded number three. All 
other mackerel, free from taint or damage, shall be branded number 
four. 

" Sec. 2. The inspector-general shall not have any interest, directly or 
indirectly, in the cure or packing of any pickled fish, except so far as a 
faithful performance of his duty requires. 

"Sec. 3. The act in addition to an act regulating the inspection of 
pickled fish, being the one hundred and fifty-fourth chapter of the stat- 
utes of the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six ; the act 
concerning the manufacture of barrels for pickled fish, being the forty- 
second chapter of the statutes of the year one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty-four; and also so much of the third section of the twenty-eighth 
chapter of the Eevised Statutes; as is inconsistent with this act, are 
hereby repealed." 

In 1850 the following law was enacted in Massachusetts, requiring 
that dutiable imported pickled fish be branded with the word "foreign.'? 
This law was repealed by act April 1,1879. It had become quite unim- 
portant, since nearly all fish requiring such branding were those from the 
British provinces, which, by the treaty of Washington, had been ad- 
mitted free of duty for several years. The law reads as follows : 

"Pickled fish of foreign catch, on which an import duty is laid by the 
laws of the United States, which is brought into this State and here 
inspected or reinspected, shall, in addition to iho, brand mentioned in 
the preceding sections, be branded with the word 'foreign' on the head 
of each cask, barrel, or package, in letters not less than one inch in 
length, and separate and distinct from the other brands. 

"If an inspector of fish inspects or reinspects any fish of foreign catch 
so imi)orted and brought into this State, and refuses or neglects to com- 
ply with the requirements of the preceding section, he shall forfeit and 
pay for such refusal or neglect fifteen dollars for every cask, barrel, or 
package so neglected." 



BEPORT OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [388] 
CONNECTICUT. 

The following fish-inspection law was enacted in Connecticut May 31, 
1823, and appeajs in the Eevised Statutes of 1849 : 

^'Be it enacted, c&c. All pickled shad, codfish, or mackerel, intended 
for market, shall be split and well cleansed, and pickled in strong brine. 
Shad and codfish shall be in such brine at least fifteen days, and mack- 
erel at least forty-eight hours, before they are put up for market, aud^ 
shall be put in barrels or half-barrels, the barrels containing two hun- 
dred pounds each, and the half-barrels one hundred pounds each, of 
fish well packed, with a sufficient quantity of salt, and filled with 
strong brine. And shad so put up shall be of three denominations, viz: 
Shad No. 1 to consist wholly of shad well saved, free from rust or any 
defect, and the head and tail cut off, and the backbone taken out; 
each barrel containing not more than seventy -two shad, and each half- 
barrel not more than thirty-sis shad. The second denomination shall 
be shad number 2, to consist wholly of well saved, trimmed, pickled, 
and prepared for packing, in the same manner as shad number 1 ; each 
barrel containing not more than eighty-two shad, and each half-barrel 
not more than forty-one shad. The third denomination shall be shad 
number 3, to consist of shad that will not answer for either of the two 
former numbers, well saved, with the head taken off; and said barrels 
and half-barrels of fish shall be inspected and branded in the manner 
hereinbefore prescribed for inspecting beef and pork; and the inspector 
who shall inspect or who shall brand the same shall designate by each 
brand the quality, weight, and kind offish contained in each barrel and 
half-barrel branded by him, and also his own name, and the name of the 
town where said fish was put up. 

"All barrels and half-barrels containing fish for market or exportation 
shall be well made of good seasoned red oak, white oak, or chestnut 
timber ; and each tierce made with twelve hoops ; and each barrel shall 
be of the capacity of from twenty-eight to thirty gallons, and each half- 
barrel of the capacity of fifteen gallons and a half." 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Laws regulating the inspection of pickled fish were enacted in Penn- 
sylvania in 1835, and, with subsequent amendments, were in force until 
1874, when they were repealed by the adoption of a new constitution 
that abolished the ofiice of State inspector, and left the regulation of the 
trade to the several cities and towns. Philadelphia has for many years 
been a large market for pickled mackerel and other fish. Large quan- 
tities are received here from the North, and, after being repacked, are 
distributed over the State, especially in the mining regions. 
A leading fish-dealer of Philadelphia writes as follows : 
" Fish-inspection laws were in force in Pennsylvania until the adop- 
tion of the new constitution in 1874, since which time we have had no 



[389] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

law governing the same. Two different bills have been before the legis 
lature, both of which failed ; we remonstrated against both, as they dis- 
criminated against us. Under one section of the law as it existed until 
1874 anj^ man in a bordering State could pack goods any weight he saw 
fit and sell them in Pennsylvania. No local law will remedy the defect. 
The only way to correct the abuse is by a general law requiring the 
weight and grade stamped on each package, and failure thereof to be 
punished by penalty. This would require no inspector, as a violation 
could be tried and determined before a justice or United States com- 
missioner, the same as any misdemeanor. Such a law would be hailed 
with delight by every honest dealer, and leave no argument for the dis- 
honest ones. From the passage of the law, in 1860, until the repeal of 
the same, in 1868, our house had their smaller jjackages put up down 
East, rather than encourage the inspector, which was only in name, no 
inspecting being done. He would walk into the counting-house, ask 
how many packages had been made, take what you gave him, and move 
on. In conversation with a merchant on this subject he told me of an 
instance where the inspector collected $3.50 fees, and the firm after- 
ward admitted to packing 2,700 packages." 

We give below the law as it stood on the statute-books of Pennsyl- 
vania at the time of the abolishment of inspection laws, in 1874 : 

Appointment and qualification of inspector and Ms deputies. Act of March 

27, 1860, sections 1, 2. 

1. The governor shall appoint, for the term of one year, an inspector of 
pickled fish in and for this commonwealth, who shall give a bond, with 
sufficient sureties, to the treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania, in 
the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, who shall have all and singular 
the powers and authorities and be subject to all and singular the 
duties and liabilities of such of&ce. 

2. Said inspector may appoint deputy inspectors for the city and 
county of Philadelphia, and in such other cities or towns in this com- 
monwealth where pickled fish is packed or repacked, and shall be an- 
swerable for their official conduct, and shall take bonds from each of 
them, with sufficient surety, in such sum as shall be judged sufiBcient, 
and the said deputies shall be sworn, either before the said inspector 
or some alderman or justice of the peace, to the faithful discharge of 
their duty. 

When piclded fish need not he reinspected. Ibid., section 3. 

3. Pickled fish which shall have been duly inspected in the State or 
country in which they were packed shall not be subject to reinspcction in 
this State: Provided, That such fish are sold or exported in the original 
packages, without being repacked. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEK Or FISH AND FISHERIES. [390] 
Duties of inspectors. Penalties for intermixing. Ibid., section 4. 

4. From and after this act shall g'o into effect the inspector or his 
deputies shall see that all kinds of split pickled fish for barreling or re- 
packing-, intended for sale or export, except herring, haddock, pollock, 
or codfish, have been well struck with salt or pickle in the first instance, 
and preserved sweet, free from rust, taint, or damage ,• and such fish as 
shall be found in good order, and of a good quality, shall be packed or 
repacked in tierces containing each three hundred pounds of fish, or iu 
barrels containing each two hundred pounds, or in lialf-barrels contain- 
ing each one hundred pounds, or in quarter-barrels containing each fifty 
pounds, or in eighths of a barrel or kids, twenty-five pounds ; each cask 
shall be filled with fish of one and the same kind ; and if any person 
shall intermix, take out, or'shift any inspected fish which have been x^acked 
or branded agreeably to the provisions of this act, or put in other fish for 
sale or exportation, contrary to the true intent and meaning of the i)ro- 
visions of the same, such person shall forfeit fifteen dollars for each 
package so altered : Provided^ however^ That if any casualty shall render 
it necessary to repack a cask of inspected fish, it shallin all cases be 
done by an inspector of such fish. 

FacJcing and repacJcing. Ibid., section 5. 

5. All fish that shall be packed or repacked in accordance with the 
fourth section of this act shall be so packed or rei^acked with good and 
clean salt, suitable for the purpose ; and after packing said fish with 
sufficient salt to preserve them, and heading said casks, they shall be 
filled up with a clear, strong pickle. 

Qualities of fish. Ibid., section 6. 

6. There shall be four qualities of mackerel, three of salmon and 
shad, and two of other kinds of pickled fish; those mackerel of besft 
quality, for family use, not mutilated, measuring not less than thirteen 
inches from the extremity of the head to the crotch or fork of the tail, 
free from rust, taint, or damage, shall be branded number one ; the next 
best quality, being not less than eleven inches, measuring as aforesaid, 
free from rust, taint, or damage, shall be branded number two ; those 
that remain after the above selections, that are free from rust, taint, or 
damage, shall be branded number three large ; those of the next infe- 
rior quality, free from taint or damage, not less than ten inches iu 
length, as aforesaid, shall be branded number three. All other mack- 
erel, free from taint or damage, shall be branded number four. 

Salmon and shad. Ibid., section 7. 

7. Those salmon and shad which are of the best quality, for family 
use, free from rust, taint, or damage, shall be selected from number one 
and number two : the best of them selected and branded number one, 



[391] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

the residue number two; all that remain, free from taint, and sound, 
shall be branded number three. 

Quality and size of casks. Ibid., section 8. 

8. All casks used for packing or repacking pickled fish intended for 
sale or exportation shall be made of sound, well-seasoned white oak, 
ash, red oak, spruce pine, or chestnut staves, of rift timber, with head- 
ing of either of said kinds of wood, and if of pine, shall also be free from 
sap and knots, and shall be planed ; the barrels, half-barrels, and tierces 
shall be well hooped, with at least three good hoops of sufficient sub- 
stance on each bilge, and three hoops of the like quality on each chime; 
the barrel staves shall be twenty -eight inches in length, and the heads 
shall be seventeen inches between the chimes ; the barre.s shall contain 
not less than twenty-eight gallons nor more than thirty gallons each; the 
halt-barrels not less than fifteen gallons each, and the tierces not less 
than forty-five nor more than forty-six gallons ; and each cask shall be 
made in a workmanlike manner. 

Inspection of casls. • Act of March 27, 1860, chapter 289, section 9. 

9. The inspector or his deputies shall strictly examine and inspect all 
casks in which he or they may be required to pack any fish, and they 
shall reject all such as are not made in a substantial manner and 
according to the provisions of this act. 

Branding of casJis. Ibid., section 10. 

10. The inspector or his deputies shall brand, in plain, legible letters, 
on the head of each cask of fish inspected by them, or either of them, 
respectively, the denomination of the fish packed or repacked therein, 
the initials of the Christian name, and the whole of the surname of the 
inspector or his deputy, as the case may be, the name of the city or 
town for which such deputy is appointed, the letters " Penn," (for Penn- 
sylvania), and the year in which the fish were packed. All fish of for- 
eign catch which shall be brought into this State, and which shall be 
repacked, shall be inspected or reinspected, and in addition to the 
brand as required by this act, shall be branded with the word foreign 
on the head of each cask containing such inspected or reinspected fish, 
in letters not less than one inch in length, and separate and distinct 
from the other brands. 

Inspection fees. Ibid., section 11. 

11. The fe^s for inspecting and branding, exclusive of cooperage, 
shall be, for each tierce, twelve cents; each barrel, eight cents; each 
half-barrel, five cents; each cask of any smaller denomination, three 
cents; and in addition to the fees aforesaid, one cent for each cask that 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [392] 

shall be nailed, which, shall be done in a suitable manner, when in their 
judgment it may be necessary. 

Seizure of uninspected fish. Appropriation of proceeds. Ibid., section 12. 

12. If any pickled fish which have been repacked, and not inspected 
or reinspected and branded according to the provisions of this act, 
shall be put on board of any boat or vessel, or into any carriage of con- 
veyance, with intent that the same shall be sold within or exported from 
this State, the inspector, or any deputy, may seize and libel the same; 
and if upon trial it shall appear that such seizure was lawful, the fish 
so seized shall be decreed to be forfeited, and shall be sold and disposed 
of at public sale to the highest bidder; and the net proceeds, after pay- 
ing the necessary expenses, shall be paid as follows : One-half to the 
overseers or guardians of the poor in the county where seized, and the 
other one-half to the inspector, or his deputy, who shall have caused the 
same to have been seized. 

Penalty for illegal selling or branding. Ibid., section 13. 

13. If any person or persons shall sell within this State, or shall ex- 
port therefrom, any pickled fish which have been packed or repacked 
therein, and not duly inspected according to the provisions of this act, 
shall forfeit the sum of ten dollars for every hundred pounds of such 
fish thus sold or exported, to be recovered in any court of this State 
having competent jurisdiction. Any person using a brand for the pur- 
pose of branding casks of fish in imitation of those used by the in- 
spector or his deputies, or in imitation of those used by the inspect- 
ors or their deputies in other States or foreign countries, or who shall 
counterfeit, forge, or fraudulently impress, or make the brand-mark, or 
any number or other mark of any such inspection, upon any cask of 

. fish subject to inspection, or shall fraudulently alter, deface, conceal 
Or erase any inspection mark duly made, shall, for every such offence, 
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be punishable by a fine not 
exceeding one hundred dollars, at the discretion of the court having 
jurisdiction of the offence. 

Repealing clause. Ibid., section 14. 

14. All the acts heretofore in force, regulating the inspection of salted 
or pickled fish, which are inconsistent herewith, be, and the same are 
hereby, repealed. — (Approved, March 27, 1860.) 

ISFame of packer to he branded.* Act of April 15, 1835, section 70. 
Sec. 70. Every brand and half-barrel of salted fish, liable to inspec- 

* This section and several of tlie following ones are only partially repealed by the 
act of Maxch 27, 1860, from which the preceding sections are quoted. 



[393] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

tion as aforesaid, shall be branded with the initial letter of the Christian 
name, and surname at full length, of the person or persons putting 
up the same, or the person selling the same, under penalty of seventy- 
five cents for every such cask. 

Mode of inspection. Ibid., section 72. 

15. Every cask containing salted fish, liable to inspection as aforesaid, 
shall be inspected by opening, and, if necessary, by unpacking and re- 
packing the same, so that the inspector may judge of the soundness and 
true package of the fish, as well as of the contents of the cask. 

Branding of unmerehantable fish. Ibid., section 74. 

16. If the inspector shall, upon examination find any barrel or half- 
barrel, containing salted fish, not to be of the proper description, or if 
he shall find the fish not to be merchantable as aforesaid, he shall erase 
and effectually deface therefrom the brand-marks ; and if the same can- 
not be made merchantable, as aforesaid, hy salting, pickling, repacking, 
and coopering, it shall be the duty of the inspector to impress dis- 
tinctly, ui3on each barrel or half-barrel, a mark of condemnation, in the 
manner following : 1. If such fish shall be inspected at Philadelphia, 
the inspector shall imjjress upon one of the heads of such cask the mark 
of a cross (thus, X), each stroke of which cross shall be at least two 
inches and a half in length ; 2. If such fish shall be inspected at the 
city of Pittsburg, or the borough of Columbia aforesaid, the inspector 
shall cause the casks to be marked on the bilge with a broad arrow 
(thus, t), or, if required, secure them for future examination, which ex- 
amination the owner or person selling the same shall procure to be made 
within four days. 

Msh may he hranded after penalty incurred. Ibid., section 76. 

17. Provided, That if any fish shall be laden for exportation, or shall 
be sold and delivered as aforesaid, without being so branded, the inspector 
may, after the penalty for such neglect shall have been paid, brand the 
same with his own name, and he may demand and receive therefor, from 
the person so lading or selling and delivering the same, the sum of six 
cents for every such cask. 

Penalty for fraudulent pacMng. Ibid., section 78. 

18. If any salted fish, liable to inspection as aforesaid, shall be found, 
upon the examination thereof by the inspector, to be fraudulently packed, 
either by the use of improper or unfit substance, or by the intermixture 
or use of fish of different qualities, the owner thereof or his agent shall 
forfeit and pay for each and every such cask the sum of five dollars. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [394] 

When Jish must he reinspected. Ibid., section 79. 

19. Salted flsli liable to inspection, as aforesaid, shall, if they have re- 
mained on hand unsold or not exported during six months after the in- 
specting and branding thereof, as aforesaid, be again examined by the 
inspector, and if found to be unsound shall be subject to the regulations 
provided for the case of salted fish which have not been inspected. 

CasJcs must he filled. Ibid., section 80. 

20. Every cask of salted fish liable to inspection shall be filled up by 
the owner thereof or by x>ersons emi^loyed by him for that purpose, and 
be packed or repacked hj him or them, as the case may be, and in all 
respects completed in such manner as the inspector shall require or 
direct, under penalty of one dollar for each and every cask. 

Fees for cooperage. Ibid., section 83. 

21. The inspectors aforesaid may also demand and receive such other 
and further allowance and compensation as shall be reasonable and cus- 
tomary to allow for the expense and trouble of cooperage in putting- 
each cask of salted provisions into good and perfect order and con- 
dition. 

Cooperage may he done hy owners. Ibid., section 84. 

22. Provided^ That the owner of any salted provisions, as aforesaid, or 
his agent, may employ any person, other than the said inspector, to do 
the cooperage necessary to put the same in good merchantable order 
and condition, as aforesaid, and in such case the said inspector shall 
not be entitled to any allowance on account of such cooperage. 

Fees for unmerchaniahle fish. Ibid., section 85. 

23. The inspectors aforesaid may demand and receive from the owner, 
possessor, or person selling any salted j)rovisions, as aforesaid, which 
shall be adjudged to be unmerchantable, or not in the condition required 
by law for sale or exportation, the same fees as if the same had been 
adjudged to be merchantable and fit for sale or exportation. 

On April 13, 1868, a law was approved which repealed the inspection 
laws theretofore in force. 

On June 2, 1871, the repealing act of April 13, 1808, was repealed, and 
the inspection laws of 1860 thereby re enacted. 

In 1874 the new State constitution was adopted, which abolished all 
inspection laws in Pennsylvania. 



[395] HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 

54. IXSPECTIOK LAWS OF THE BEITISH PROYIlSrCES. 

DOMINION OF CANADA. 

[37 Victoria, Chapter XLV; Assented to 26tli May, 1874.] 

AN ACT to make better provisions, extending to the whole Dominion of Canada, re- 
siiecting the inspection of certain staple articles of Canadian produce. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

Governor may a]^point inspectors of certain articles, and at ivJiat places. 

1. The governor in council may, from time to time, designate the sev- 
eral cities, towns, and other places, or inspection divisions in Canada at 
and for which, respectively, it is expedient to appoint inspectors of the 
several articles hereinafter mentioned, or any of them; and the governor 
may, from time to time, determine the limits of such inspection divis- 
ions, and appoint, at and for such cities, counties, towns, places, or divis- 
ions, an inspector of any of the following articles, that is to say: Flour 
and meal; wheat antl other grain; beef and pork; pot ashes and pearl 
ashes ; pickled fish and fish oil ; butter ; leather and raw hides. Such 
inspectors shall hold office during i)leasure, and shall act, respectively, 
within such local limits as the governor in council may assign to them; 
and they and their deputies sliall be appointed only from and among 
duly qualified persons, certified as such by the examiners hereinafter 
mentioned. 

Boards of examiners of inspectors. 

2. The board of trade at each of the cities of Quebec, Montreal, To- 
ronto, Kingston, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, and St. John, N. B., and 
the chamber of commerce at the city of Halifax, shall annually appoint, 
in the said cities, respectively, and the governor may from time to time 
appoint in any county in the Dominion, or for any inspection division, 
five fit and skilful persons, any three of whom shall be a quorum, for 
each class of articles to be inspected at such city or county, to examine 
and test the ability and fitness of applicants for the office of inspector 
or deputy inspector of such articles ; and no person shall be appointed 
such inspector or deputy inspector who has not been examined by and 
received a certificate of qualification from the proper board of exam- 
iners: Provided always, That the governor may, in his discretion, ap- 
point as an inspector under this act, without a new examination, any 
person who has been an inspector of the same article under any act 

■ hereby repealed. And the board may, at any such examination, permit 
the attendance of any person or persons of experience and skill in the 
subject of such examination, and allow them to propose questions perti- 
nent thereto to the examinee, in order to test his knowledge and skill. 
It shall be the duty of every such board to grant such certificates, 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [396] 

and such only, as to the qualification of the candidates who present 
themselves for examination as the knowledge and i)roficiency of such 
candidates may require or justify. 

Examiners to take oath. 

3. Each such examiner shall, before acting as such, take, before some 
justice of the peace, an oath in the following form, or to the same effect : 

'^ I, A B, do swear that I w^ill not, directly or indirectly, personally 
or by means of any person or persons in my behalf, receive any fee, re- 
ward, or gratuity whatsoever, by reason of any function of my ofiice of 
examiner of applicants for the office of inspector or deputy inspector 

of , except such as I may be entitled to receive by law, and that 

I will therein well and truly, in all things, act without partiality and to 
the best of my knowledge and understanding. So help me God." 

Which oath shall remain in the custody of the justice administer- 
ing it. 

Inspector not to trade in articles which he inspects. 

4. ISTo inspector shall deal or trade in, or have any interest, directly or 
indirectly, in the production of any article subject to inspection by him, 
or sell or buy any such article (except for the consumption of himself 
and family), under a penalty of two hundred dollars for any offence 
against this section and the forfeiture of his office. 

Inspector to taTce oath of office. 

5. Each inspector shall, before acting as such, take and subscribe, be- 
fore some justice of peace, an oath of office in the form or to the effect 
following : 

"I, A B, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully, truly, and impar- 
tially, to the best of my judgment, skill, and understanding, execute 
and perform the office of an inspector; and that I will not, directly or 
indirectly, by myself or by any other person or persons whomsoever, man- 
ufacture or prepare, deal, trade in, or sell, or buy, exce'pt only for the 
consumption of myself and family, and [insvrt the description of the arti- 
cles he is to inspect) on my account, or upon the account of any other 
person or persons whomsoever, while I continue such inspector. So 
help me God." 

Deputy inspector to have no interest in articles he inspects, — Oath of office. 

No deputy inspector shall have any direct or indirect interest by him- 
self or by any person whomsoever, in any article inspected by him. 

Deputy inspector to taJce oath of office. 

Every deputy inspector shall, before acting as such, take and sub- 
scribe before some justice of the peace, the following oath : 

" I, A B, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully, truly, and impar- 



[397] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

tially, to the best of my judgment and skill and understanding, execute 

!ind iDerform the office of a deputy inspector of , and that I will 

not inspect, brand, or certifj'- to the quality of any article or thing in 
which I have any direct or indirect interest on my own account, or upon 
the account of any person whomsoever, while I continue to hold office as 
a deputy inspector. So help me God." 

Such oaths shall remain in the custody of the justice admiuistering 
them, and any copy thereof certified by the said justice shall be prima t 
facie evidence of such oaths. 

Security to he given hy inspector or deputy. 

G. Each inspector or deputy inspector shall, before acting as such, 
g^ive security for the due x^erformance of the duties of his office, in such 
sum as the governor may direct, by bond to Her Majesty, with two 
sureties to the satisfaction of the governor, to be bound jointly and 
severally with them, in the form and subject to the provisions prescribed 
by law relative to the security to be given by persons appointed to 
offices of trust in Canada, and such bond shall avail to the Crown, and 
to all persons aggrieved by any breach of the conditions thereof, and 
such bond shall remain in the custody of the secretary of state of 
Canada; and any copj^ thereof certified by him shall be prima facie 
evidence of such bond, and of the contents and tenor thereof, and such 
copy shall be furnished when required, on payment of a fee of one dollar. 

Appointment of deputy inspectors when required. 

7. Each inspector may, and shall, when thereunto required by the 
governor, in any inspection division, or by the boards of trade in any 
of the before-named cities, appoint a deputy, or so many deputies as 
may be necessary, for the speedy and efficient performance of the duties 
of his office ; such assistants being duly examined and sworn and giving 
security, as above provided ; and they shall be held to be dejiuties of 
the inspector for all the duties of his office, and their official acts shall 
be held to be (5fficial acts of the inspector, and he shall be responsible 
for them as if done by himself; and each deputy inspector shall make 
such returns and reports of his official acts as shall be required of him 
by the inspector whose deputy he is. 

Duties and tenure of office of deputy inspector. 

8. The said deputies shall respectively be paid by, and shall hold their 
offices at the pleasure of the inspector; and no such inspector shall 
allow any person whomsoever to act for him about the duties of his 
office, excepting only his sworn deputy or deputies, appointed as afore- 
said. 

Deputy to act on death of inspector. 

9. In the event of the death of any inspector, his senior deputy in- 
spector shall perform all the duties of the inspector until his successor 
is appointed. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [398] 

Returns or reports of official acts, under regulations to he made l>y gov- 
ernor in council. 

10. The governor in council may, from time to time, require any and 
every inspector to make such returns or reports of his or their ofiBcial 
acts to any i)ublic department or ofi&cer, board of trade or municipal 
authority, and in such form and containing such particulars and informa- 

, tiou as he may deem expedient, and may, from time to time, by order 
in council, make such regulations for the governance of inspectors under 
this act, or any of them, and o'f parties employing them as such, as he 
may think proper, and may, by such regulations, impose penalties not 
exceeding fifty dollars to any person offending against them; and any 
copy of such regulations printed in the Canada Gazette shall be prima 

facie evidence of any such regulations, and that they are then in force; 
and such regulations not being contrary to or inconsistent with this act 
shall be obeyed by such inspectors and parties employing them as if 
embodied in this act ; and any offence against them shall be deemed an 
offence against this act and punishable as such. 

Disputes toucliing inspection, how settled, where there is no hoard of trade 

or chamher of commerce. 

11. If any dispute arises between any inspector or deputy inspector 
and the owner or possessor of any article by him inspected, with regard 
to quality and condition thereof, or relating in any respect to the same, 
then, upon application by either of the parties in difference, to any jus- 
tice of the peace for the place in which such inspector or deputy inspec- 
tor acts, such justice of the peace shall issue a summons to three persons 
of skill and integrity, one to be named by the inspector or deputy in- 
spector, another by the owner or possessor of the article in question, 
and the third by such justice of the peace (who, failing the attendance 
of either of the parties in difference, shall name for him), requiring such 
three persons forthwith to examine such article and report their opinion 
of the quality and condition thereof under oath (which oath the justice 
of the peace shall administer), and the determination, or that of the 
majority of them, made in writing, shall be final and conclusive, whether 
approving or disapproving the judgment of the inspector or deputy in- 
spector, who shall immediately conform thereto, and brand or mark 
such article, or the package containing the same (as the case may be) 
of the qualities or condition directed by the determination aforesaid; 
and if the opinion of the insDector or deputy inspector be thereby con- 
firmed, the reasonable cost or charges of re-examination (to be ascer- 
tained by the said justice of the peace) shall be paid by the said owner 
or possessor of the article in question, and, if otherwise, by the inspec- 
tor or deputy inspector: [Proviso, for the re-examination of flour and 
meal in cities where there is a board of trade or chamber of commerce.] 

Whenever any difference arises between inspectors as to the true 



[399] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

quality or grade of any article inspected by one of them and re-inspected 
by another, such di£ference shall be definately determined by reference 
to such board of arbitration or other authority as the governor in coun- 
cil may appoint for that purpose. 

Fees for re-examination, Jioic to he fixed. 

12. The council of the board of trade, or chamber of commerce, if there 
be one, for each of the said cities or places where inspectors are ap- 
pointed, and, if not (or in case such council fails to make such tariff, the 
governor in council) shall, from time to time, make a tariff of the fees 
and charges to be allowed for such re-examination and all services aLd 
matters connected therewith, and may also establish rules and regula- 
tions for the government of the persons re-examining any article on ap- 
peal from the decision of the inspector or deputy inspector ; and all 
such fees shall be payable before the delivery of the bill of inspection, 
or the re-delivery by the inspector of the articles inspected, on which 
he shall have a special lien for such fees. 

Penalty in case of neglect or refusal of inspector to act. 

13. If any inspector or deputy inspector refuses or neglects on appli- 
cation to him, made personally or by writing, left at his dwt'lling-house, 
store, office, or ware-house, on any lawful day, between sunrise and sun- 
set, by any owner or possessor of any article which such inspector or dep- 
uty inspector is appointed to inspect (such inspector or deputy inspector 
not being at the time of such application employed inspecting else- 
where) forthwith, or within two hours thereafter, to i)roceed to such in- 
spection, he shall, for every such neglect or refusal, forfeit and pay to the 
l)erson so applying, twenty dollars over and above all the damage oc- 
casioned by such refusal or neglect to the party complaining, recover- 
able in a summary way before any one justice of the peace, on the oath 
of one credible witness other than such complainant. 

As to fraudulent alteration or imitation or use of &c.^ of inspector'' s 

onarTcs, &c. 

14. Any person who, with a fraudulent intention, alters, effaces, or 
obliterates wholly or partially, or causes to be altered, effaced, or oblit- 
erated any inspector's brands or marks on any article having under- 
gone inspection, or on any package containing any such article, or coun- 
terfeits any such brand or mark, or brands, impresses, or otherwise 
marks thereon any mark purporting to be the mark of any inspector or 
of the manufacturer or i^acker of such articl-e, either with the proper 
marking instruments of such inspector, manufacturer or packer, or with 
counterfeit imitations thereof, or empties, or partially empties, any such 
package marked, after inspection, in order to put into the same any 
other article (of the same or any other kind), not contained therein at 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [400] 

the time of such inspection, or uses for the purpose of packing any ar- 
ticle, any old package bearing inspection marks, or (not being an in- 
spector or deputy inspector of any article) brands or marks any package 
containing it, with the inspector's marks, or gives any certificate pur. 
porting to be a certificate of inspection of any article; and any person 
who being m the employ of any inspector or deputy inspector, or of any 
manufacturer or packer of any article subject to inspection, hires or 
lends the marks or marking instruments of his employer to any person 
whatever, or connives at, or is privy to any fraudulent evasion of this 
act with respect to any such marks as aforesaid, shall, for such offence, 
incur a penalty of forty dollars ; and any inspector or deputy inspector 
who inspects or brands or marks any article out of the local limits for 
which he is appointed, or hires out or lends his marking instruments 
to any person whomsoever, or gives any certificate of inspection without 
having i^ersonally performed the inspection, or any willfully false or un- 
true certificate, or connives at or is privy to any fraudulent evasion of 
this act, shall, for each such offence, incur a penalty of one hundred dol- 
lars, and shall forfeit his office, and shall be disqualified from ever after 
holding the same. 

Assuming title of inspector or deputy inspector without authority . 

15. Any person not thereunto duly authorized under this act, who in 
in any manner whatever assumes the title of insi)ector or deputy in- 
spector, or issues any bill, certificate, or declaration purporting to estab- 
lish the quality of any pot-ashes or pearl-ashes, flour or meal, beef or 
pork, grain, pickled fish or fish oil, butter, leather, or raw hides, shall, 
for such offence, incur a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars. 

Penalties, how recovered and applied. 

16. Every penalty and forfeiture imposed by this act, or by any regula- 
tion made under it, not exceeding forty dollars, shall, except when it is 
otherwise herein provided, be recoveable by any inspector or deputy in- 
spector, or by any other person suing for the same, in a summary way 
before any two justices of the peace for the place, in their ordinary or 
other sessions, and shall, in default of payment, be levied by warrant of 
distress, to be issued by such justices against the goods and chattels of 
the offender ; and where such penalty or forfeiture exceeds forty dol- 
lars it may be sued for and recovered by any such inspector, deputy 
inspector, or any other person, by bill, plaint, information, or civil ac- 
tion, in any recorder's court, or in any court having jurisdiction in civil 
cases to the amount, and may be levied by execution as in case of debt. 
And the moiety of all such penalties (except such as may be herein 
otherwise applied) when recovered shall belong to the Crown for the 
Ijublic uses of the Dominion, and the other moiety shall belong to and 
be paid to the inspector, or deputy inspector, or other person suing for 
the same. 



[401] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Limitation of time for commencing suits under this act. 

17. Any action or suit against any person for anything done in j^ur- 
suance of this act, or contrary to its provisions, shall be commenced 
within six months next after the matter or thing done or omitted to be 
done, and not afterwards ; and the defendant therein may plead the 
general issue, and give this act and the special matter in evidence, and 
at any trial therein, and that the same was done under this act ; and if 
it appears so to have been done, then the judgment shall be for the de- 
fendant ; and if the plaintiff is non-suited or discontinues his action 
after the defendant has appeared, or if judgment is given against the 
plaintiff' the defendant shall recover treble costs and have the like rem- 
edy for the same as defendants have in other cases. 

Payment of cost of inspection, when article is sold subject to inspection. 

18. In all cases where any article is sold subject to inspection, the 
person applying to the inspector shall be entitled to reimbursement of 
the cost of inspection from the vendor, if such applicant be not himself 
the vendor, unless an express stipulation to the contrary is made at the 
time of the sale, or of the agreement to submit to inspection; and such 
agreement to submit to inspection shall imply a warranty that the arti- 
cle in question is of the quality for which it is sold, and that all the re- 
quirements of this act have been complied with as to such article and 
the packages in which it is contained, unless it be otherwise expressly 
stipulated. 

Inspection not always compulsory. — Lien for fees. 

19. Nothing in this act ^all oblige any person to cause any article to 
be inspected, unless such inspection is expressly declared to be com- 
pulsory, but if inspected, it shall be subject to the provisions of this act, 
and shall not be branded or marked as inspected unless the said provis- 
ions have been in all respects complied with, with respect to such arti- 
cle and the packages in which it is contained. Inspectors and their 
deputies shall be paid their fees upon the articles inspected by them by 
privilege and preference over all other creditors, and may retain pos- 
session of the articles inspected until the fees to which they are entitled 
under this act shall have been paid. 

The governor in council may make regulations whenever he deems it 
necessary to do so, for the apportionment of the fees paid under this 
act between the inspectors and their deijuties, and for providing for the 
payment of fees to the examiners appointed under this act by parties 
who present themselves for examination; and every such regulation 
may be rescinded or varied from time to time. 

Inspection laio o/1873 repealed. 

20. The act passed in the session held in the thirty-sixth year of Her 
Majesty's reign, intituled ^'■An act to amend and to consolidate and to ex- 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [402] 

tend to the whole Dominion of Canada, the laws respecting the insnection of 
certain staple articles of Canadian produce,''^ is hereby repealed, except 
that such repeal shall not, effect the repeal of any former act or pro- 
vision of law, any liability incurred, any bond or security given, any 
action, suit, or proceeding pending, any penalty, forfeiture, or punish- 
ment incurred for any offence committed, any appointment made in 
council, regulation, or order made or given and not inconsistent with 
this act, or anything kiwfully done before this act comes into force; and 
if, in any contract made before the coming into force of this act, it has 
been stipulated that any article therein mentioned, shall be subject to 
inspection, then, unless the contrary be clearly expressed, the intended 
standard of quality of such article shall be understood to be that estab- 
lished by the laws in force at the date of such contract; and if the in- 
spection is made after this act is in force, it shall be made according to 
standard established. 



SPECIAL PROVISIONS RESPECTINGr THE INSPECTION OF PICKLED FISH 

AND FISH OILS. 

Inspector to provide branding irons. 

61. Every inspector shall provide himself with proper branding irons, 
or stencil i)lates, for the purpose of branding or marking such casks, 
barrels and boxes as may by him be inspected pursuant to this act; 
and it shall be the duty of each inspector to know that all his deputies 
are duly provided in this respect. 

Inspecting must he in presence of inspector. 

62. The inspecting, culling, classing, weighing, packing and branding 
or marking of any fish or oil shall be done in the immediate presence 
and sight of an inspector or deputy inspector. \ 

Duty of inspector. — Size and material of pqcJcages. 

63. It shall be the duty of the inspector or deputy inspector to see 
that all kinds of split, whole, pickled or salted fish, intending for pack- 
ing or barrelling, and submitted to him for inspection, have been well 
struck with pickle and salt, in the first instance, and preserved sweet, 
free from taint, rust, salt-burn, oil or damage of any kind; and all fish 
or oil intended for market or exportation, and branded or marked as 
inspected and merchantable, shall be well and properly packed, in good 
tight and substantial packages or casks— except green codfish packed 
without xHckle, which may be packed in barrels or packages which are 
not tight; and all other packages shall be made of the materials and in 
the manner following: 

Tierces, barrels, and half-barrels shall be made of sound, well-seasoned 



[403] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

split or sawed staves, free from sap, and in no case to be of hemlock, 
and the heading shall be of hardwood, pine, fir, or spruce, free from 
sap, and planed on the outside, and shall be at least three-quarters of 
an inch in thickness. Staves for salmon and mackerel barrels shall be 
twenty-nine inches in length, and the heads between the chimes seven- 
teen inches. Staves for barrels for herring shall be twenty-seven inches 
in length, and the heads between the chimes shall be sixteen inches; 
and the bung staves of all such barrels shall be of hardwood. All 
casks shall be hooped with not less than twelve sound, good hoops, of 
not less than one inch in width at the large end for all tierces and bar- 
rels, and in no case to be of alder. The makers of all tierces, barrels, 
and half-barrels, shall brand the initials of their Christian names and 
their whole surnames, and also the letters 8. M. or H., according as the 
])ackage may be intended for salmon, mackerel or herrings, at or near 
the bung staves, under a penalty of twenty cents for every package not 
so branded. 

All empty packages shall be subject to the inspection and approval 
of the inspector or his deputies, Avho shall brand or mark the word 
"condemned" immediately after the maker's name on all packages that 
will not pass inspection. 

In tclmt cases and places inspection shall he compulsory. 

64. The inspection of all pickled fish cured for market or exportation, 
and of all fish-oils, codfish tongues, or codfish sounds, cured for such 
])nrpose, and contained in any such packages as are hereinafter men- 
tioned, shall be compulsory in every province of the Dominion, except 
Manitoba and British Columbia, at any place where an inspector is 
appointed by law ; and if any such pickled fish, fish-oils, or other articles 
aforesaid, in any such package as aforesaid, is sold, or offered for sale, 
or exported, or shipped, or laden in any vehicle for exportation, or 
otherwise oifered ,to be exported in or from any place within any prov- 
ince of Canada, except British Columbia or Manitoba, for which an 
inspector or deputy inspector has been appointed, without being in- 
spected under this act, the i)ersou so selling or offering it for sale, or 
exporting it, or offering it for exportation, shall incur a penalty of not 
less than one dollar and not more than five dollars for each such of- 
fence. 

Inspection to he in accordance with this act. 

65. All Pickled fish cured for market or exportation, and all fish-oils, 
Codfish tongues and codfish sounds, shall be inspected, weighed, or 
gauged, and branded or marked, only in accordance with this act ; and 
all green codfish, in boxes or i>ackage8, shall be inspected and culled, 
and a certificate of inspection for the latter, stating the quality and 
quantity thereof so inspected, and shipped on board any vessel, shall 
be granted by any inspector or deputy inspector. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [404] 

Qualities of fish. — Manner of branding. 

66. The various binds of flsli to be inspected under this act, shall be 
branded or marked of the following denominations respectively : 

1. Salmon to be branded or marked " ]S"o. 1," shall consist of the larg- 
est or best and choicest kind, being well split, the blood being well 
washed out before being salted, well cured, in the best condition, and 
in every respect free from taint, rust, or damage of any kind. 

Those to be branded or marked '^ K^o. 2." shall comx^rehend the best 
salmon that remain after the selection of the first quality, and shall be 
good, sound, well split and cured fish, in the best condition, and in 
every respect free from taint, rust, or damage of any kind. 

Those to be branded or marked ^'No. 3," shall consist of those that 
remain after the selection of the first two qualities, but must be good, 
sound fish, and in every respect free from taint, rust, or damage of any 
kind. 

2. Maclcerel to be branded or marked " mess mackerel," shall consist 
of the best and fattest mackerel, being well split, having the blood well 
washed out before being salted, well cured, in the best condition, and 
free from taint, or rust, or damage of any kind, and shall be such as 
would have measured not less than fourteen inches, from the extremity 
of the head to the crotch or fork of the tail, and shall have the head 
and tails taken off. 

Those to be branded or marked " Extra ]S"o. 1" shall consist of the 
best and fattest mackerel, being well split, having the blood well washed 
out before being salted, well cured, in the best condition, and free from 
taint or rust or damage of any kind, and shall measure not less than 
fourteen inches from the extremity of the head to the crotch or fork of 
the tail. 

Those to be branded or marked " Ko. 1" shall consist of the best and 
fattest mackerel, being well split, having the blood well washed out be- 
fore being salted, well cured, in the best condition, and free from taint, 
rust, or damage of any kind, and shall measure not less than thirteen 
inches from the extremity of the head to the crotch or fork of the tail. 

Those to be branded or marked " No. 2 " shall comprehend the best 
mackerel that remain after the selection of the first qualities, and shall 
be prof)erly split and washed, well cured, and in every respect, free from 
taint, rust, or damage of any kind, and shall be divided into two quali- 
ties, those from thirteen iuches and upwards, not being sufficiently fat 
to make IsTo. 1, beiug branded No. 2 large, and those from eleven inches 
tip to thirteen inches shall be branded No. 2. 

Those to be branded or marked " Large No. 3 " shall consist of good, 
sound mackerel, jiroperly washed, well cured, and free from taint, rust, 
or damage of any kind, and shall measure not less than thirteen inches 
from the extremity of the head to the crotch or fork of the tail. 

Those to be branded or marked " No. 3 " shall consist of good, sound 



[405] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

mackerel, properly washed, well cured, and free from taint, rast, or dam- 
age of any kind, and shall measure eleven inclies and upwards from the 
extremity of the head to the crotch of the tail. 

All mackerel under eleven inches in length, of good, sound quality, 
and free from taint and rust, or damage of any kind, shall be branded or 
marked with the words " Small Spring" or " Small Fall" in the place of 
a number. 

All short, sunburnt, or ragged mackerel, of whatever class and not 
otherwise defective, shall be branded and marked " iSTo. 4." 

3. Herrings, Gaspereaux, and Alewives to be branded or marked "No. 
1" shall consist of the largest and best fish, well struck with salt, thor- 
oughly cured and clean, and bright in colour; and those to be branded 
or marked " No. 2 " shall comprehend the best herrings that remain 
after the selection of the first quality. 

All undersized heri'ings to be branded or marked " No. 3 " with the 
word " Small" in addition to the other brands or marks. 

All ripped herrings shall be branded or marked with the word 
" Bound" in addition to other brands or marks. 

All herrings that are not gibbed or ripped shall be branded or marked 
with the word " Gross " in addition to other brands or marks. 

All spring-caught herrings shall be branded or marked with the word 
" Spring " in addition to other brands or marks. 

The above shall be well cleaned and cured, and in every respect free 
from rust, taint, or damage. 

Herrings that are caught at the Magdalen Islands, Bale des Chaleurs, 
Labrador, or Newfoundland, and brought into port in Canada in bulk 
and packed in Canada, shall be branded or marked " Magdalen Islands," 
"Bay des Chaleurs," " Newfoundland," or " Labrador," respectively, in 
addition to other brands or marks. 

Herrings packed and inspected in Newfoundland and imported into 
Canada shall be marked or branded "Newfoundland" without further 
inspection : 

4. Smoked lierrings to be branded or marked "No. 1" shall compre- 
hend the best and fattest fish ; and those to be branded or marked "No. 
2 " shall consist of the poorer, smaller, and inferior fish ; both of these 
qualities shall be well smoked, free from taint, and not burnt or scorched ; 
and no red or smoked herrings shall be so branded or marked, unless 
they be well and sufflciently saved and cured, and carefully packed in 
good and substantial barrels, or half-barrels ; and if in kegs or boxes, 
the same shall be of well-seasoned boards, the sides, top and bottom of 
not less than half an inch in thickness, and the ends at least three- 
quarters of an inch thick ; and the inside measurement of each box shall 
be eighteen inches long, and nine inches broad, and eight inches deep, 
well nailed, and the tops or covers smoothed ; tainted, burnt, scorched 
and badly smoked herrings, shall be considered "refuse," and may be 
branded or marked as such without any character. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES, [406] 

5. Sea trout to be branded or marked " Xo. 1" shall consist of the 
largest, best, and fattest kind, being well split, and in every respect free 
from taint, rust, or damage of any kind. 

Those to be branded or marked '• IsTo. 2 " shall comprehend the best 
trout that remain after the selection of the first quality, and shall be 
good sound iish, free from taint, rust, or damage of any kind. 

6. La1<e and salmon trout to be branded or marked '■'• Xo. 1, Lake" shall 
consist of the largest and fattest fish, and be free from taint, rust, or 
damage. 

Those to be branded or marked "No. 2, Lake" to be the next best fish, 
free from taint, rust, or damage. 

7. White fish to be branded or maiked '■'~So. 1" shall consist of the 
largest and fattest kind, cured in good condition, and be in every respect 
free from taint, rust, or damage ; " Xo. 2" shall consist of those that re- 
main after the selection of the first quality, and be free from taint, rust, 
or damage. 

8. Green codfish in barrels, with or without pickle, to be classed " iSTo. 
1 " shall consist of the best and fattest, being well split and cleansed, 
well cured, in first-rate condition ] and in every respect free from faint, 
salt-burn, rust, or damage of any kind, and shall measure at least fifteen 
inches to the crotch of the tail. ^ 

Those remaining after the selection of the first quality, to class " No. 
2," shall be sound, well-cured fish, and free from taint, salt-burn, rust, 
or damage of any kind. 

9. All other kinds of fosh not enumerated herein, and belonging to 
denominations specified by this act, such as ling, hake, haddock, pol- 
lock, catfish, halibut, shad, bass, eels, codfish tongues and codfish sounds, 
in casks or barrels, shall be branded or marked as such, and must be 
sound and well cured, free from taint, salt-burn, rust, or damage of any 
kind. 

10. Small fish, which are usually packed whole, with dry salt or 
]iickle, shall be put into good casks of the size and materials required 
by this act for the packing of split, pickled fish, and shall be packed 
close, edgeways in the casks, and properly salted with good, coarse, 
wholesome, dry salt, and the casks shall be filled full with the fish and 
salt, and no more salt shall be put with the fish than is necessary for 
their preservation ; and the casks containing such whole fish shall be 
branded or marked with the denomination of the fish, and a like desig- 
nation as is prescribed by this act in respect of the qualities, &c., of 
other pickled fish. 

11. All rusty or sour fish, of whatever kind or class, shall be branded 
or marked with with the word " rusty" or "sour" in addition to other 
brands or marks. 

12. No foul or tainted fish, or fish mutilated for the purpose of con- 
cealing marks and appearances of illegal capture, or unsizeable, shall 
pass inspection ; and it shall be the duty of every inspector or deinity 



[407] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

inspector to seize, and any magistrate may confiscate to Her Majesty, all 
fish found or exposed for sale having been killed or captured during pro- 
hibited seasons^or by unlawful means, and all fish at any time offered 
for sale or barter, or attempted to be exported, whilst in an unwhole- 
some condition. 

13. Fish known as pickled fish, that may be cured in bulk, if not in- 
spectetl and certified as aforesaid, and afterwards packed in barrels, 
shall be branded or marked with the word "bulk" in addition to other 
brands or marks. 

14. Bach cask or j^ackage of fish shall contain fish of the same kind, 
or parts of the same kind and quality, proi^erly packed in separate lay- 
ers, and on every layer of fish so i)acked in the cask, a sufficient quan- 
tity of good, clean, suitable salt, free from lime, shall be properly j)laced, 
and in like proportion for other packages, at the discretion of an in- 
spector or deputy inspector; and after the cask shall have been prop- 
erly packed and headed it shall be filled with clean pickle, strong enough 
to float a fish.of the kind so packed. 

15. Should it appear to any inspector, or deputy inspector, that a 
portion of the fish inspected by him is sound, and another portion un- 

I sound, he shall separate the sound from the unsound, repack the sound 
fish, and mark or brand the same according to its quality; and such 
portion as the inspector judges incax)able of jireservation he shall con- 
demn as bad, and mark "refuse," in addition to other marks. 

16. If any casualty renders it necessary to repack inspected fish it 
shall in all cases be done by and in the presence of an inspector or 
deputy inspector; and any other person attempting to repack or brand 
or mark the same shall be liable to a penalty of not more than twenty 
dollars for every such offense. 

17. When any fish, branded or marked by a deputy inspector, proves 
unequal in quantity or quality to that which may be indicated by the 
brand or mark, or deficient in any way of the requisites prescribed by 
this ac, the inspector may cause the same to be reinspected; and if 
it appear that the defect arose from the condition of the fish, or the bad 
quality of the cask, or the bad packiug or pickling of the fish at the 
time of the inspection, he may recover the cost and charges of such re- 
inspection from the deputy who branded or marked the same. 

18. Pickled fish, duly inspected, packed and branded or marked, and 
oils, inspected and branded or marked under this act, at any place in 

■ the Provinces of ISTova Scotia, ISTew Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, or 
British Columbia, shall not be subject to reinspection within the Do- 
minion, except only in cases already provided for in this act. 

19. Each tierce shall be three hundred pounds, and each half tierce 
one hundred and fifty pounds ; each barrel shall be two hundred pounds, 
and each half-barrel one hundred pounds; each quintal shall be one 
hundred i)ounds; each draft shall mean two hundred pounds; and each 
box of herrings shall contain twenty-five pounds. In each of the above 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [408J 

instances the weight shall be clear avoirdupois, exclusive of salt and 
pickle. 

20. There shall be branded or marked on the head o^ butt of each 
cask of j)ickled or dry-salted fish, in plain, legible letters after the same 
has been inspected, culled, classed, weighed, and packed, in accordance 
with this act, the descrij)tion of the fish, the weight and quality con- 
tained in the package, the initials of the Christian name or names, and 
the whole surname of the inspector or deputy inspector by whom the fish 
was inspected, and the name of the place where he acts as inspector, 
and the month and the year of inspection. 

Standards of Jish oils, hotc fixed and kept. 

67. The boards of examiners of inspectors of fish and fish oils shall 
fix and have in charge the standard of fish oils in ISTova Scotia, ISTew 
Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, respectively; and the same shall be 
classified and branded or marked according to such standards, as fol- 
lows: 

1. Whale oil shall be free from adulteration of every kind, and shall 
be branded as such with the class according to quality appointed by 
standard— if No. 1, "Pale"; if Ko. 2, "Straw"; if No. 3, "Brown." 

2. Seal oil shall be free from adulteration of every kind, and shall be 
branded as such, with the quality per standard — if No. 1, "Strictly 
Pale"; if No. 2, "Pale"; if No. 3, "Straw"; if No. 4, "Brown"; if No. 5, 
"Dark Brown." 

3. Porpoise oil shall be free from adulteration of every kind, and shall 
be branded as such, with the quality per standard — if No. 1, "Pale"; 
if No. 2, "Straw"; if No. 3, "Brown." 

4. God oil shall be free from adulteration, and be branded as such — 
first quality, "A"; second quality, "B." 

5. Herring, halce, pollocTc, and dog-fish oil, and all other oils, shall be 
branded as such — first quality, "A"; second quality, " B." 

6. An inspector or deputy inspector shall determine the gauge of each 
cask, and the outs thereof, and shall mark the same on the cask; and 
the barrels shall be in good order and condition, sound and staunch, 
and shall be made of hard wood, and if any cask or casks be found to 
contain water or other adulteration, such shall be scribed or branded 
by the inspector or deputy inspector on the cask. . 

7. Casks containing fish oils shall be scribed or branded with such 
quality, the month and the last two figures of the year when inspected, 
the initials of the Christian name or names, and the entire surname of 
the inspector, and also the place of inspection, and. the initial letters of 
the name of the province in which it was inspected. 

8. The designation "Fish oils" in this act shall include whale, seal, 
porpoise, cod, herring, sturgeon, siskawitz, and all other kinds of oil 
derived from fish and marine animals. 



[409] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Fees for inspection. 

68. Every inspector or deputy inspector who shall inspect and brand 
or mark any cask or package of pickled fish, in bulk, or any fish oil, in 
accordance with the provisions of this act, shall be entitled to fees a.t 
the following rates, which shall be paid by the original owner, or the 
person who employed him in the first instance : 

1. For each tierce of salmon, salmon-trout, or sea-trout, fifteen cents; 

2, For each half-tierce of salmon, salmon-trout, or sea-trout, ten cents ; 

5. For each barrel of mackerel, ten cents ; 

6. For each half-barrel of mackerel, five cents ; 
.7. For each barrel of herring, five cents; 

8. For each half-barrel of herring, three cents ; 

9. For each barrel of. shad, ten cents ; 

10. For each half-barrel of shad, seven cents ; 

11. For each barrel of whitefish, ten cents ; 

12. For eacii half-barrel of whitefish, seven cents ; 

13. For each barrel of pickled codfish,, hake, haddock, or catfish, five 
cents ; 

14. For each half-barrel of pickled codfish, hake, haddock, or catfish, 

three cents ; 

15. For each barrel of dry-salted codfish, hake, haddock, catfish, ling, 
or pollock, five cents ; 

16. For each half-barrel of dry-salted codfish, hake, haddock, catfish, 
ling, or pollock, three cents ; 

17. For each barrel of bass, ten cents ; 

18. For each half-barrel of bass, seven cents ; 

19. For each barrel of cod tongues, cod sounds, halibut, or eels, ten 
cents ; 

20. For each half-barrel of cod tongues, cod sounds, halibut, or eels, 
seven cents ; 

21. For inspecting, gauging, and branding each puncheon of oil, 

twenty cents ; 

22. For inspecting, gauging, and branding each hogshead of oil, fif- 
teen cents; 

23. For inspecting, gauging, and branding each tierce of oil, twenty 
cents ; 

24. For inspecting, gauging, and branding each barrel of oil, fifteen 

cents ; 

25. The foregoing rates shall be reckoned exclusive of salt, pickle, 
cooperage, storage, and labour, employed in washing, rinsing, cleaning, 
nailing, screwing, or repacking and pickling any fish ; 

26. For branding or marking ^NTewfouudland fish which have been in- 
spected in ISTewfoundland, two cents per barrel; 

27. For inspecting empty packages, one cent : 

Provided, always, that any person causing his fish or oil to be in- 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [410] 

spected, may employ at his cost and charge a cooper to attend upon 
and assist the inspector or deputy inspector in the performance of his 
duty, in which case the inspector or deputy inspector shall not be 
allowed any charge for cooperage, and the cooper so employed shall be 
governed and guided solely by the directions which he receives from the 
inspector or deputy inspector, with respect to any fish or oil by him in- 
spected, and not by any other person whomsoever. 

Where inspections shall be effected. 

69. Fish and fish oil may be inspected either at the place where they 
are packed or manufactured, or at the place of sale within the Do- 
minion. 

When not inspected at place of pacldng and when at place of sale. 

70. When fish are not inspected at the place of packing, the packer's 
name and the quality of the fish must be marked in paint on each bar- 
rel, half-barrel or package 5 and when they are inspected at the place 
of sale, the inspector shall empty out ten packages in each hundred of 
the lot submitted to him for inspection, and such inspection of ten 
out of every hundred shall regulate the grade of fish so submitted for 
inspection. 

Bill of inspection. 

71. So soon as any flsh is inspected, a bill of inspection shall be fur- 
nished by the inspector or deputy inspector, specitiying the quality as 
ascertained by inspection, and whether each package contains the weight 
prescribed by this act, with the name of the packer and of the inspector 
at the pla<je of j)acking. 

As to fish landed from United States vessels for reshipmevit there. 

72. This act shall not apply to fish landed at any port of the Domiu- 
iou from United States fishing vessels for the purpose reshipment to 
the United States, unless the owners of such fish wish them to be in- 
spected : Provided always, that such fish, if so reshipped without being 
inspected, shall not be branded or marked. 

[39 Victoria, 1876, Chapter XXXIII.] 

AN ACT to amend the act to make better provision, extending to the whole Domin- 
ion of Canada, respecting the inspection of certain staple articles of Canadian 
produce. 

[Assented to 12th April, 1876.] 

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and 
House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows : 

1. Section sixty-three of the act of thirty -seventh Victoria, chapter 
forty-five, cited in the title of this act, is heieby amended by striking 



[411] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

out tlie words "one incli in widtli at the large end," and inserting iu 
place thereof the words " five-eights of an inch at the small end." 

2. Section sixty-four of the act cited in the title of this act is hereby 
repealed, and the following is substituted in place thereof: 

" 64. The inspection of all pickled fish cured for market or exporta- 
tion, and of all fish oils, codfish tongues, or codfish sounds, cured for 
such purpose and contained iu any such packages as are hereinafter 
mentioned shall, whenever such pickled fish, fish oils, or other articles 
as aforesaid, are removed beyond the limits of the inspection district in 
which they are j)ickled or packed, be compulsory in every province of 
the Dominion (except British Columbia and Manitoba), where an in- 
spector is ai)pointect by law : and if anj such pickled fish, fish oil, oi 
other article as aforesaid be sold or removed for sale beyond the limits 
of such district, or shipped or laden in any vehicle for removal, or offered 
to be removed from any district or place within the Dominion, except 
Manitoba and British Columbia, without being inspected under this act, 
the person so selling or removing the same, or offering the same for sale 
or removal, shall incur a penalty of not less than one dollar and not 
more than five dollars for each and every such i)ackage." 

3. Subsection four of section sixty-six of the said act shallbe amended 
by adding the following words to the first paragraph : 

"And every such box of smoked herrings shall contain at least twenty 
pounds of fish, and half-boxes shall be twenty-two inches long, four 
inches deep and eight inches wide, and to contain not less than ten 
pounds of fish." 

4. Subsection eight of the said sixty-sixth section shall be amended by 
adding the following : 

" Every barrel of pickled codfish shall contain two hundred i^ounds 
of fish, and every half-barrel one hundred pounds of fish.^' * * * 

43 Victoria, 1880, chapter XX. 

AN ACT to amend " The general insiiection act, 1874," and the act amending it. 

[Assented to 7th May, 1880.] 

In amendment of " The general inspection act, 1874," and the act 
amending it, passed in the thirty-ninth year of Her Majesty's reign, 
and chaptered thirty-three : Her Majesty, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as 
follows : 

1. The sixth section of the act first above cited is hereby amended by 
strikiog out the word " governor" in the fourth line, and inserting in 
lieu thereof the words " minister of inland revenue." 

2. The sixty-fifth section of the said act first above cited is hereby 
amended by inserting after the word ^' j)ickled" in the first line thereof, 
the words " and smoked." 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [412] 

3. The sixty-eightli section of the act first above cited is hereby 
amended by inserting after sub-section eight the following i^aragraphs : 

"(«) For each box of smoked herrings, two cents 5 

"(&) For each half-box of smoked herrings, one cent; 

"(c) For each quarter-box of smoked herrings, one-half cent." 

4. The sixty-third section of the act first above cited is hereby 
amended by inserting the following paragraph, following the second 
paragraph of the said section : 

" Barrels of the following dimensions may also be used for a special 
quality of fish, that is to say: The stave shall be twenty-eight inches 
long, the head seventeen between the chimes ; the chimes to be one and 
a quarter inches ; the head three-fourths of an inch in thickness, and 
the bung stave shall be of hard wood. Every such barrel shall be 
hranded with ihe words ^special size.-" * * * 

[44 Victoria, 1881, chapter 52.] 

AN ACT to amend "The general inspection act, 1874," and the acts amending it. 

[Assented to 21st March, 1881. j 

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and 
House of Commons, enacts as follows : 

1. The act passed in the forty-third year of Her Majesty's reign 

intituled " An act to amend ' the general inspection act, 1874,' and the 

act amending it," is hereby amended by rei)ealing the tariff of fees to 

^ be collected for the inspection of smoked herring, contained in the third 

section of the said act, and substituting the following: 

(«) For each box of smoked herrings, one cent; 

(h) For each half-box of smoked herrings, one half cent; 

(c) For each quarter-box of smoked herrings, one-quarter cent. 

NOVA SCOTIA. 

(Eevised Statutes of ]S'ova Scotia, 1851, chapter 85.) 

On the regulation and inspection of provisions, Itwiber^fuel, and other mer- 
chandise. 

FISH. 

Appointment of inspectors. 

1. The governor in council shall appoint in every county a chief in- 
spector of pickled fish therein, who shall be sworn into office and shall 
give a bond, with two sureties, in five hundred pounds, to Her Majesty, 
for the faithful discharge of his duty. He shall not engage nor have 
Any interest, direct or indirect, in the curing or packing or the sale of 
j)ickled fish, under a penalty of one hundred pounds and forfeiture of 
his of&ce ; and any i^erson who shall act as inspector or deputy inspector 



[413] HISTOKY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

without having been duly appointed and sworn, shall forfeit five pounds 
for each offence. 

Chief inspector to appoint deputies. 

2. Every chief Inspector shall ax^point a sufficient number of deputies 
to act under him during pleasure, and shall be responsible for their 
official conduct, and shall take a bond from each of them in fifty pounds, 
with sureties ; and every such deputy shall be sworn to the faithful 
discharge of his duty in the same manner as the chief inspector. 

Qualities offish. 

3. There shall be three qualities of mackerel, three of salmon, two of 
other kinds of pickled fish, and two of smoked herrings. 

Mackerel of the quality number one shall consist of the best and 
fattest fall mackerel, having had the blood well washed out previous to 
being salted, and being properly soaked, well cured in every respect, 
free from taint, rust, or damage, well split, and being of the best kind 
and in the best condition, and measuring not less than fifteen inches 
from the extremity of the head to the crotch of the tail; such mackerel 
shall be branded " mackerel number one," and if scraped shall be branded 
" mackerel number one, extra." 

Mackerel of the quality number two shall consist of the best fall 
mackerel which shall remain after the selection of the first quality, be- 
ing properly soaked, the blood washed ont, well cured, and in every re- 
spect free from taint, rust, or damage, well split, and measuring not less 
than twelve inches from the extremity of the head to the crotch of the 
tail; and snch mackerel shall be branded "mackerel number two," and 
if scraped shall be branded " mackerel number two, extra." 

The quality to be branded number three shall consist of good, sound 
mackerel, properly soaked, the blood washed out, well cured, well split, 
and in every respect free from taint, rust, or damage ; and all mackerel 
less than ten inches in length shall be branded " small," and all rusty 
fish, without reference to quality, shall be branded '' rusty." 

Salmon to be branded "No. 1" shall consist of the best and fattest 
kind, having all the blood well washed out previous to its being salted, 
and being well cured, well split, and in every respect free from taint, 
rust, or damage, being fish of the best kind and in the best condition. 
Those to be branded "No. 2" shall comprehend the best salmon that 
remain after the selection of the first quality ; and those to be branded 
"No. 3" shall consist of other salmon ; but both of the last-mentioned 
qualities shall be, nevertheless, sound, good fish, blood well washed out, 
well cured, well split, and in every respect free from rust, taint, or 
damage. 

The quality of herrings, alewives, or other pickled fish to be branded 
"No. 1" shall consist of the fattest and best fish ; and the quality to be 
branded "No. 2" of the poorer, thinner, and inferior fish, and both of 



EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [414] 

the qualities shall be carefully cured aud cleansed, and in every respect 
free from taint, rust, or damage. 

Smoked herrings branded "IS'o. 1 " shall comprehend the fattest and 
best fish ; aud those branded " ISTo. 2 " the poorer, thinner, and smaller 
fish. They shall be sweet and well-cured aud smoked. 

Quality, dimensions, and capacities of casTcs and boxes. 

4. Barrels and half-barrels in which pickled fish is intended to be 
packed shall be made of sound, well-seasoned staves, free from sap, and 
the heading shall be of hard wood, pine, or spruce, smooth on the outside, 
and shall, as well as the staves, be at least three-quarters of. an inch in 
thickness, but if hardwood the staves may be five-eighths of an inch in 
thickness. Staves for mackerel and salmon shall be twenty-eight 
inches in length, and the heads, between the chimes, sixteen inches ; 
and the bung-stave shall always be of hard wood ; the casks shall be 
well-hooped with at least four hoops on each bilge and four on each 
chime. Mackerel and salmon barrels shall contain not less than twenty- 
eight nor more than twenty-nine gallons, and barrels for herring and ale- 
wives not less than twenty-six nor more than twenty-seven gallons, 
and the tierces and half-barrels shall contain a quantity proportionate 
thereto. The makers shall brand their names on every barrel and half- 
barrel under a peualty of five shillings for each cask. 

Boxes for smoked herriug shall measure on the inside eighteen inches 
in length, twelve in breadth, and sis in depth; or eighteen inches in 
length, nine in breadth, and eight in depth; and shall be strong, well- 
made, sufficiently seasoned, and the covers well -planed or shaved. 

Caaks to -contain certain quantities of fish and salt. 

5. Casks shall contain the quantity of fish hereinafter prescribed for 
each, respectively, over and above the salt and pickle necessary to pre- 
serve the same, that is to say : a tierce, three hundred pounds ; a bar- 
rel, two hundred pounds ; a half-barrel, one hundred pounds. Each 
barrel shall contain two pecks of salt, clean and suitable for the pur- 
pose ; and every tierce and half-barrel shall contain a like proportion. 

PicTcled and smoked fish to he inspected before exportation. 

6. All pickled fish intended for exportation in tierces, barrels, and half 
barrels, and all smoked herrings inteudexl for exportation or sale, shall 
be first insi^ected, and the cask or box branded on the head thereof by 
an inspector in ijlain legible characters, with the description of the fish, 
the number of the quality aud the weight, the initials of the Christian 
names and the whole surname of the actual inspector, the name of the 
town or place where he acts as inspector, the capital letters "IsT. S.," for 
Nova Scotia, and the year of the inspection. 



[415] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Certificates of inspection; fine for exportation tvitJiont. 

7. The person who shall have actually inspected any pictled fish 
shall grant a certificate of such inspection, which shall be given to the 
proper officer before any vessel on board which the fish may be laden 
shall be cleared out. Any person exporting pickled fish in tierces, bar- 
rels, or half barrels, contrary to this section, shall forfeit five shillings for 
every such cask. 

Smoked herrings liable to seizure if not inspected. 

8. Smoked herrings shipped or sold without having been duly in- 
spected and branded may be seized under a warrant of a justice of the 
peace, to be given upon information under oath. 

Instructions for curing and paclcing fish. 

9. All inspected pickled fish, whether split or otherwise, shall be well 
struck or salted in the first instance, and the qualities shall be those 
prescribed in the third section. Each cask shall be filled up with fish 
of the same kind and quality, properly packed and headed up, with the 
requisite number of hoops thereon. The fish shall be very carefully 
sorted and classed, according to their respective numbers and qualities, 
and then weighed, and on every layer of fish, as packed in the barrel, 
the quantity of salt hereinbefore prescribed shall be regularly placed. 
Herrings and alewives, whether split or round, and all number three 
mackerel, shall be packed with coarse salt. Smoked herrings shall be 
carefully packed, each box with fish as nearly as possible of the same 
size, laid in the same direction, and not across one another, and so 
stored as to completely fill the package. 

Damaged fish not to he inspected. 

10. Tainted or damaged pickled fish, or smoked herrings, shall on no 
account be permitted to pass inspection. 

Fish to he sorted, inspected, and branded in inspectorls presence. 

11. The sorting, weighing, inspecting, and branding of any package 
of pickled fish or smoked herrings shall be done by or in the sight of 
an inspector thereof, and if any casualty render it necessary to repack 
a cask of inspected pickled fish in any place, it shall in all cases be 
done by an inspector of pickled fish, if one be resident within five miles 
thereof. 

Inspectors, when to attend; manner of inspection. 

12. Every chief inspector, by himself or his deputy, shall inspect all 
picket fish nnder the x>rovisions of this chapter when ten casks are 
ready for his inspection, and he is required so to do under ai peualty of 
twenty pounds for every default, unless his residence be more than five 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [416] 

miles from the place wliere his attendance may be required; and sliall 
likewise inspect all tierces, barrels, and half-barrels which are intended 
to contain pickled fish, and condemn all such as shall not be conform- 
able to these provisions, and brand those he shall aj)prove upon the 
bung-stave with the initials of his name. 

SmoTced herrings, how inspected. 

13. Inspectors of smoked herrings shall inspect, and, when necessary, 
shall cull and repack every box thereof which is intended for sale or ex- 
portation, and shall for that purpose open, and, after inspecting, reclose 
and brand the same as hereinbefore directed. 

Fees of inspectors, and how paid. 

14. Every inspector actually performing the duty shall be entitled to 
receive the following fees for inspecting and branding, viz: For every 
tierce, nine pence; for every barrel, five pence; and for every half- bar- 
rel, two pence halfpenny; to be paid one-half by the buyer and the 
other by the seller; and for each empty cask, one penny, to be paid by 
the seller. For every box of smoked herrings, one penny-half- jlenny; 
and for culling and repacking the same, when necessary, two pence-half- 
penny in addition. 

Returns of chief inspectors, how made. 

15. Every chief inspector shall make a return to the provincial secre- 
tary of all the pickled fish inspected by him or his deputies; the same 
to be made up to the last days of March, June, September, and Decem- 
ber, in each year, and delivered within one month thereafter. 

Deputy inspectors to account to chief inspectors. 

16. The deputy inspectors shall account to the chief inspector under 
whom they act once in every three months, or oftener if required, for 
all fish inspected and the fees received by them therefor ; and shall pay 
over to him one-fifth of the same. 

Fine for allowing unauthorized parties to inspect fish, and for lending 

branding irons. 

17. No person other than an inspector shall sort, weigh, inspect, 
brand, or alter any tierce, barrel, or half barrel of pickled fish intended 
for exportation, unless in the presence and sight, and by the authority 
of an inspector; and any inspector who shall suffer any person so to act, 
or shall lend his branding irons in violation or evasion of this section, 
shall forfeit ten pounds for every ofience. 

Fine for acting without authority. 

18. If any ])erson not duly appointed and sworn shall act as an in- 
spector of pickled fish, he shall for every offence forfeit twenty pounds. 



[417] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

Counterfeiting brands, or shifting fish imi)roperly, punishable by fine and 

imprisonment. 

19. Any person counterfeiting or using the brand of an inspector of 
smoked herrings, or being accessory thereto, or shifting any smoked 
herrings which shall have been i^acked and branded, or putting in other 
fish, contrary to or in evasion of these provisions, shall be punished by 
fine or imprisonment, at the discretion of the court before whom hemay 
be convicted. 

Fine for intermixing or improperly exporting piclded fish. 

20. If any person shall take out, shift, or intermix any inspected 
pickled fish which have been duly packed or branded, or shall cause to 
be exported, in tierces, barrels, and half barrels, pickled fish not duly 
inspected and branded, or any such cask not duly inspected and branded 
he shall forfeit five shillings for every such cask. 

Forfeiture upon masters of vessels for receiving on board uninspected 

smoked herrings. 

21. If any master or commander shall receive on board his vessel any 
smoked herrings which have not been duly inspected and branded, for 
the purpose of conveying the same out of the township wherein they 
were cured, he shall forfeit the value thereof; but no such forfeiture 
shall exceed fifty pounds for any one offence. 

Actions for misconduct of deputies ; liability of inspector in such cases, and 

his redress. 

22. All actions for the recovery of penalties or damages on account of 
the misconduct or neglect of any deputy inspector may be prosecuted 
either against such deputy or the chief inspector under whom he acts, 
who shall have his remedy against the deputy, either upon the bond 
given by him or by action on the case for damages ; and in every such 
action the judgment recovered against the chief inspector shall be evi- 
dence of damages against such deputy or his sureties, if the deputy 
shall have had due notice of the action brought against the chief in- 
spector. 

Inspected casks may be reinspected ; deficiencies, how supplied. 

23. When any cask of pickled fish branded by a deputy inspector 
shall prove unequal in quantity or quality to that which may be indi- 
cated by the brand on the cask, or deficient in any of the requisites 
hereby prescribed, the chief inspector may cause the same to be rein- 
spected ; and if it api^ear that the defect arose from the condition of 
the fish or the bad quality of the cask, or the bad packing or pickling 
of the fish at the time of the inspection, he may recover the costs and 
charges of such reinspection from the deputy who branded the same. 



EEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [418] 
FISH OIL. 

CasTcs offish oil, how branded. 

24. On every cask of fisli oil gauged shall be branded or cut with, a 
double iron the initial letters of the Christian name of the ganger, and 
the whole of his surname, and the word "cod," "dog," "whale," "seal," 
or whatever word will express the description of the contents. 

Ganger' s duty and fees. 

25. i^o ganger stall be compelled to leave his residence to gauge a 
less quantity than five barrels ; and the fees for gauging shall be at the 
rate of one shilling a puncheon or ninepence a barrel. 

Fine upon ganger for misconduct. 

26. Any ganger who shall falsely brand any cask of fish oil shall, for 
every gallon, forfeit sixpence. 

Fine for acting as a ganger without authority. 

27. If any person shall act as a public gauger of fish oil without hav- 
ing been duly appointed and sworn, he shall, for every offence, forfeit 
five pounds. 

X. APPENDIX.-THE MACKEREL FLEET. 
55. VESSELS E;N^GAGED IN THE MACKEEEL FISHERY IN 1880. 

The following alphabetical list shows the vessels engaged in the mack- 
erel fishery in 1880; the rig, tonnage, number of crew, apparatus of cap- 
ture, fishing grounds frequented, and the home port of each vessel being 
shown separately. The list includes 4G8 vessels, valued at $1,027,910, 
or an average of $2,196 each. To this quantity should be added $1,094,450, 
or $2,339 per vessel, which represents the value of the provisions, boats, 
nets, salt, barrels, and other necessary apparatus and outfit. This 
brings the total capital invested in the mackerel-fishing fleet up to 
$2,122,360, exclusive of the shore property for packing and storiug the 
catch. The total tonnage of the fleet is 23,551.64, or an average of 50.32 
to the vessel. The regular seining vessels carry from 12 to 16 men, 
while the crews of the smaller craft range from 2 to 6 ; the total number 
of persons employed on the vessels is 5,043. 

Of the entire fleet, 235 sail are employed exclusively in the mackerel 
fishery, while 233 fish for cod and other species in the spring and fall, 
engaging in the mackerel fishery during the height of the season only. 
Three-fourths of all the vessels, or 343 sail are provided with purse- 



[419] HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 

seines, 5 of them carrying, in addition, a supply of jigs for occasional 
use. Of the remainder, 81 fish with hook and line, and 44 are provided 
with gill-nets. 

The principal fishing grounds are the off-shore waters between Cape 
Hatteras and Sandy Hook, the Block Island region, the Gulf of Maine, 
and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Accord.ng to the list, 64 vessels fished 
along various portions of the coast between Cape Hatteras and Mount 
Desert Island, on the coast of Maine, 6 of them going to the Gulf of 
Saint Lawrence for a few weeks. Twelve small craft fished regularly 
in the waters about Block Island, 343 remained constantly in the Gulf 
of Maine, 31 others divided their time between the Gulf of Maine and 
the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the remaining 18 fished wholly in Brit- 
ish waters. As the fleet for a few of the Massachusetts ports is shown 
for 1879, the above facts do not represent the actual condition of affairs 
in 1880;. for during the last-named year not" over 25 American vessels 
entered provincial waters. 

Massachusetts furnishes over half of the entire mackerel fleetj heading 
the list with 279 sail, valued at $750,895. Maine comes next with 176 
vessels, worth $233,715. New Hampshire has 11 sail, valued at 29,300 ; 
while the Connecticut fleet consists of 2 large schooners, worth $14,000. 
The four principal mackerel-fishing ports are Gloucester, Portland, 
Wellfleet, and Boston, these sending 113, 46, 34, and 25 vessels, re- 
spectivel5\ 



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[421] 



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EEPOET OF COMMISSIONEE OF FISH AND FISHEEIES. [428] 






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[429] 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FTSHEEY. 




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REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



[430] 



XT. APPENDIX.— STATISTICS OF THE MACKEREL 
FISHERY IN THE GULF "OF SAINT LAWRENCE. 

56. THE CATCH OF MACKEREL BY AMERICAN SCHOONERS IN CANA- 
DIAN WATERS, 1873-1882. 

The followiug: statement, prepared by Colonel David W. Low, of Gllou- 
cester, shows the extent of the mackerel fishery as pursned by Ameri- 
can vessels in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence since the year 1873. The 
number of vessels and their catch in the years 1873 to 1877, inclusive, is 
compiled from the reports of the collector of customs at Port Mulgrave, 
l^ovsi Scotia ; the number of vessels in 1878 and 1879 is from the same 
authority; the catch for 1878 and subsequent years and the number of 
vessels in 1880 and 1881 is from reports of the Boston Fish Bureau. 
The estimates of value and the catch within the three mile limit are 
from authentic sources. The value includes the labor of crews "mess- 
ing" some of the fish by soaking, scraping, and cutting ofi' their heads, 
thus increasing their market value. The quantity of mackerel caught 
within the three-mile limit, one-third of the total catch, is considered by 
competent authorities to be a very liberal estimate. The unusual number 
of vessels in the gulf in 1878 was caused by false reports and telegrams 
of great quantities of mackerel there. American vessels in the gulf- 
mackerel fishery must average four hundred barrels of mackerel each at 
ten dollars per barrel to pay the expenses of outfit, insurance, deprecia- 
tion of vessel, crew's share, and master's commission. 

The mackerel fishery hy American vessels in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence for the years from 

1873 to 1881, inclusive. 

[Compiled by Col. David W. Low.] 



Year. 


"3 

i 

r 


o 

o 


a 
^^ 

.23 

|i 


o 


Value when sold in 
United States per 
barrel, packing- off. 


Total value in 
United States of 
whole catch when 
sold. 


Number of barrels 
caught inside 
three-mile limit, 
libelal. 


Value in United 
States of macker- 
el caught within 
three-mile limit, 
liberal estimate. 


1873 


254 

164 

95 

64 

60 

273 

44 

34 

3 

1 


88, 012 

63, 078 

13, 006 

5, 495 

8,365 


11, 001 

7,885 

1,626 

687 

1,046 


77, Oil 
55, 193 
11,380 
4,808 
7,319 
61, 923 
10, 706 
7,301 
470 
275 


$10 46 

6 25 
14 18 
11 60 
11 10 

4 15 
2 50 

7 72 

8 50 
8 50 


$805, 535 
344, 95G 
161,368 

55, 773 
81, 241 

256, 980 
26, 990 

56, 364 
3,995 
2,125 


25, 670 

18, 308 

3,703 

1,603 

2,439 

20, 641 

3, 599 

2, 4rf3 

156 

95 


$26S, 508 
114 987 


1874 


3875 


53, 785 


187C 


18, 594 


1877 


27, 072 
85 660 


1CT8 


1879 


8,997 


1880 






18, 783 
1, 326 


1881 






1882 






717 










Total 


992 







236, 476 


"7'59 


1, 795, 327 


78, 827 


598, 429 





















Tearly average catch per vessel, 238, 



[431] 



HISIORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



ALPHABETICAL INDEX. 



Page. 

Abundance of macterel 13, 14, 15 

in Bay of Fundy, 1839 234 

on George's Bank, 1868.* 302 

in Gloucester Harbor, 1845... 239 

in Gloucester Harbor, 1866... 292 

in Gloucester Harbor, 1870. .. 310 

in Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1848. 242. 

in Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1863. 284 

in Ipswich Bay 287 

in Ipswich Bay and at Cape 

Cod 281,282 

in Maine bays, 1845 239 

on Maine coast, 1849 243 

on Maine coast, 1860 273 

on Maine coast, 1865 286 

off Malpec, 1865 288 

in Massachusetts Bay, 1833 . . 226 

in Massachusetts Bay, 1859 . . 269 

in Massachusetts Bay, 1868 .. 301 

in Massachusetts Bay, 1880 . . 351, 352 

off Monhegan Island, 1880 350 

off New England coast, 1629 

-'35 217 

on Kew England coast, 1815.. 239 

on Ife-w England coast, 1854.. 257 

on New England coast, I860.. 273 

on New England coast, 1866. . 293 

on New England coast and 
scarcity in the bay, 1879 .... 344, 345 

on Nova Scotia coast, 1843 237 

about Sable Island, 1847 240 

at Small Point, Maine, 1871 .. . 316 

Adams, M.L 306 

Adriatic, mackerel in 4 

Agassiz, Professor 24 

AUerton, Mr. Isaac 115, 110 

American fishery, importance of, 1832 226 

schooners annoyed by British 
cruisers in Bay of Chaleur, 

1852 251,252 

vessels not annoyed by British 

cruisers in the bay, 1863 303 

vessels in Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

1869 305 

vessels in Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

1875 328 

Amherst Harbor 45, 46 

Ammodytes americanus 18 

Anadromous fishes 6 

mackerel never 40, 43, 44 

Anderson, Capt. James 338 

Ann, Cape 47,83,241,276,282,284 

Annisquam 291 

Anticosti 4,315 



Pago. 
Apparatus and methods of fishing . . 52, 73, 85, 98, 

113, 115 

Appearance in Barnstable Bay, 1838 234 

difference in the time of, at 
the Magdalen Islands and 

at Waquoit, Mass 46 

Appendix .' 354 

Arrivals from Chaleur Bay, 1850 246 

from George's Bank, 1842 236 

on George's Bank, 1878 338 

from St. Lawrence Bay, 1853 255, 2:56 

1867 297 

1868 303 

high prices, &c., 1873 325 

prospects, 1859 270 

slim doings, 1868 304 

unprofitable trips, 1855 269 

and shore fleets, 1860 274 

Ashby, Capt.Benj 22 

Aspee Bay 82 

Atwood, Capt. N. E..3, 15, 24, 26, 38, 82, 91, 107, 108, 
110, 117, 122, 145, 225, 226, 331 
experience in mackerel 
fisheries, 1839-1840 . . 234 

1841-1851.. 247 

experience in St. Law- 
rence Gulf fisheries, 
1835, 1838 . . - -227, 228, 229, 233 

Babson, Capt. Eitz J 89,297,345 

Capt. Gorham 16, 78 

Bad season in Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1871. . 315, 316 

Baird, Prof. S. F 5-6,10,17,25 

Bait 58-59 

amount consumed 89 

and apparatus for its preparation 87-92 

price of 90 

fish 19 

miU 91,92 

miU, first on Cape Ann 223,224 

mill, introduction of, 1823 222 

Baker, Captlsaiah 77, 116 

Baltic 4 

Barker, Christopher 77 

Bamegat 9,253 

Barnstable Bay 276,300,314 

mackerel fleet in, 1838 .... 233 

Harbor 306 

Barry, Hon. James 101,143,144 

Basse 27 

Bathic migration 6 

Baxter and Bragg "^44 

Bay fishery, 1858 265 

1866 -291 

1869 307 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



[432] 



Page. 

Bayfleet, 1867 296 

1873 323 

1878 340,343 

arrival home of, 1873 325 

disaster to the, 1851 249 

the early, 1862 281 

1858 265 

first start of, 1866 289 

1873 322 

fitting away of, 1859 269 

1868 301 

from Gloiicester, 1858 265 

increase in the, 1858 203 

alarge, 1867 296 

sailing of the first of the, 1861 . . 278 

small, 1875 329 

Baymen, 1855 260 

1868 303 

1869 308 

arrival of, 1858 263 

1865 286-287 

1866 294 

1869 307 

light fares of, 1869 308 

poor success of, 1842 237 

Bay of Chaleur,higfarein, 1849 243 

poor luck in, 1849 243 

Bay trip, quickest ever made, 1850 246 

Bean, Dr. T. H 15 

Belle Isle, Straits of 3-4 

Berdick, William 274 

Bermudas 4 

Billingsgate Point 276 

BirdEock 82,83 

Birds, attraction for 41,43 

BlackKock 257 

Blanchard, Capt. Miles 311 

Blatchford, Capt. Henry 53 

ISTathariiel . 220 

Capt. Sam'l 79 

Blindness 10,12 

Blinks 26 

Block Island. . . .33, 47, 49, 344, 145, 253, 294, 333, 334, 

341. 349 
Block Island, largest mackerel ofi", 1880 .. 349 

fleet 351 

Boat-fishing in Maine, 1837 230 

Bobhing mackerel 118 

Bonaventure 245, 274, 294, 321 

Bonne Esperance 316 

Boone Island 16, 18, 49, 79, 83, 314 

BedBugs 16 

BoothBay 311 

Boston 114,339 

Bay 268 

mackerel industry, 1877-1881 210 

Boys in the mackerel fishing 298 

Brackett, Mr. Thomas 9 

BradclleBank .33 

Bradley Bank 21, 22, 23, 46, 82, 245, 261, 267, 282 

284, 287, 294, 298 

Breeze, a mackerel 33 

Breton, Cape 82,295,321 

Island 30,31,40 

Brevoortia tyrannus 88 



Page. 
British cutters in Bay of St- La-wrence dis- 
guised to insare the capture of Ameri- 
can schooners, 1852 251 

British provinces, mackerel exports, 1873- 

1879, 1857-1873, 1853-1876 217 

Broiled mackerel 136, 137 

Brown, Dr. Robert 20 

Samuel 219 

Capt. Warren 8 

Brownell, Jonathan 77 

Bruce, Sir Frederick W. A 290 

Bufflngton, Mr 321 

Bumham, Andrew 223 

Grorham 91 

Capt. Simeon 219 

Butler, General 321 

Buzzard's Bay 22, 25 

Cahoon, Capt. Abraham 336 

• Caiss, Edward 85 

Camden 23, 136 

Cameron, Daniel 82, 85, 88 

Mr. John 92 

Canada fishery, 1873-1879 214 

including Prince Edward 

Island, 1869-1880 216 

mackerel exports, 1873-1879 214,215 

Canadian fishermen, disinclination for 

mackerel catching, 1872 320 

fishermen, lack of interest ex- 
hibited by, 1871 314, 315 

fishing industry, dependence 

on the United States 847 

Canning, 1845 239 

industry, origin and develop- 
ment 131-137 

methods and statutes of 131-137 

Canso 299 

Gut of 41, 346 

Strait of 31, 94, 102, 103, 111, 263, 274, 285, 

209, 336 

Cape Ann, fishing ofi", 1825 and 1831 222 

1839 234 

Cape Cod 12, 24, 32, 41, 128, 241, 245, 282, 284 

Bay, fishing in, 1802 218 

1855 258 

1869 306 

1877 337 

large schools off, 1848 243 

Capture, dates of 9, 10 

latitude of 9 

Careoftheflsh 98-100 

Cargoes, landing the 75 

Carolina coast 9 

Cascumpec 299 

Cashes Ledge 83 

Cat-thresher 109 

Cayenne 16,17 

Chaleur, Bay of. . 19, 40, 82, 239, 241, 245, 262, 265, 294 

Charleston 10 

Charlottetown 251,308 

Chatham 83, 89, 110, 241, 244, 319 

Chatte, Cape 82 

Chauncy 's Creek 332 

Chedahucto Bay 31,111 

Cheticamp 82.280,286,299 



[433] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Page. 
H2 
39 
341 

4 



Chincoteague 

Shoals 

Chisholm, Capt 

Christiania Fjord 

Chronological history North American 

mackerel fishery 218-354 

Church, Capt. David T 123 

Clark, A.Howard 66,115,162 

WiUiam 119 

Close of season, 1828 224 

1850 246 

Clupea aestivalis 90,91,109 

harengas 18 

Cogswell, General William 150 

Cohasset 265 

Cohasset hooker, good catch of a, 1860 274 

Cold waters, partial to 7 

Collins, Capt. J. W.. .19, 21, ?2, 27, 32, 33, 38, 143, 276 
reminiscences of, 1849. 244 

'50. 245 

'51. 249 

'52. 253,254 
'53. 256,257 
'54. 258 

'55. 260,261 
'56. 261 

'57. 262,263 
'58. 267 

'69. 270,271 
'60. 274,275 
'61. 279,280 
'62. 282,283 
'63. 284 

'64. 285 

'65. 287,288 
'66. 294,295 
'67. 298-300 
'68. 305 

'69. 309 

'70. 313,314 
'71. 319 

'72. 321 

'73. 326 

Cooked mackerel 133, 134, 135 

Copepoda 15 

Crabs 30 

Currents, effect of, on mackerel food 30 

Cushing, Hon. Caleb 46 

Dana & Co 159 

Davis, "Uncle" George, reminiscences of, 

1819-1859 .• 223,224 

Davis, Gideon L 223 

Dates of appeara-nce and disappearance .41, 42, 43, 

44, 47 

for successful fishing 39, 40, 44, 47 

Deane, Samuel 116 

Deblois, Capt. E. T 77 

Deep water haul 79 

Delaware 83 

Capes of 9 

coast 339 

Denmark (Eastern) 4 

Destructive gale in Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

1873 325 

Dimock, Daniel 317 



Pago. 

Disappearance H 

Discophores l^ 

Disinclination to take the hook 226 

Dissection 10, 1 1 

Dogfish 28 

Double Island Harbor 3 

Drag-net fishery, the most extensive 108, 109 

Drag-seining HC 

Drailing for mackerel 117, 118 

Drift-net fishing 109.110 

Duffy, Mr. William !• 

Dunn, Mr. Matthew 25 

Dyer, Mr. Charles A 345 

Earll, Mr. E. E. 3, 79, 85, 88, 131, 345 

Early appearance ofi' Cape Ann, 1869 306 

catches, 1871-1881 112,113 

1878 338 

days. Cape Ann mackereling trip, 

]815-'20 '. 223 

fishing off Cape Cod, 1671 218 

methods of the mackerel fishery. . . 115-119 

start for the bay, 1858 263 

1860 273 

East Point (Prince Edward Island) 46, 82, 257 

Eastport, Me .21,107,136 

EggEoek 310 

Eggs, mackerel 25, 26 

Elizabeth, Cape -- 40 

Enemies 27-29 

English Channel 4 

Escuminac Point 82, 242, 267, 282, 287, 294, 300 

Essex - 105 

Existing laws 254-372 

Failure of bay fishery, 1877 335 

the fishery, 1843 238 

almost total, 1841.. 236 

sad results of, 1868. 304,305 
mackerel on George's Banks, 

1845 

Western coast, 
Nova Scotia, 

1832 

Saint Lawrence Gulf fishery, 

1879 

Spring mackerel at the Magda- 

lens, 1876 

Fall fishery at Cape Ann, 1860 

in Barnstable Bay, 1870 

Cape Cod Bay, 1849 

1860 

1869 

1871 318,319 

1879 339 

mackerel in Cape Cod Bay, 1838 231 

school on Nova Scotia coast, 1861.. . 279 

Fattening the fish 100,102 

Fees of the inspector-general 147, 162 

Financial profits of the mackerel hook 
fishery 103-105 



239 



226 

344 

332 
277 
311 
244 
276, 277 
306 



Fire Island , 

First American vessels in the bay, 1876 . 

appearance, 1875 

arrival from the bay, 1860 

1861 

1862 



253 
332 
328 
273 
298 
381 



HISTOKY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



[434] 



Page. 

First arrival from the bay, 1 865 286 

1866 291 

1867 297 

1868 302 

1869 307 

1875 330 

scarcity re- 

ported,1853. 254 

inBoston, 1878 342 

at Gloucester, 1878 342, 343 

Irom the south, 1855 259 

3869 306 

1870 310 

fare from G-eorge's, good haul, 1873 . 333 

of the season, a big stock, 1875. 329 

mackerel caught off Cape Ann, 1873 . 322 

in Mass. Bay, 1863 283 

1870 311 

of th e season, 1852 250 

taken, 1861 277 

seizure of an American 
vessel for 'fishing off 
Prince Edward Island, 

1852 251 

voyages from Cape Ann to 

George's Bank, 1822 221 

voyages from Cape Ann to 
Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 

1830 224 

Pish, Hon. Hamilton 6 

Island 247 

taking care of 73-75 

Fisher, Captain 23 

Island Sound 15 

Fisheries, 1871 317,318 

bill, passage of, 1873 321,322 

Fishermen 49,83,84 

continued labor and fatigue of. 69, 70 

death of experienced, 1863 283 

extracts from records and rem- 

iniscenses of 217 

Fishery, 1870 311 

almost a failure, 1858 265 

partial failure of, 1858 265,268 

Fishing grounds 21, 48, 49, 82, 83, 112 



349 ! 



Fitzgerald, Mr. John 

Fleet for 1828 

1870 

1880 

at the Magdalens, 1875 

expected home, 1866 

fitting for the bay, 1862 

in Barnstable Bay, 1860 

in Gloucester, 1862 

movements of, 1878 341,342 

in Saint Lawrence Gulf, 1834 236 

Fly-hook 86 

Food 15,16,17,18,19,20,21 

Foreign mackerel, United States consump- 
tion of, 1872-1881 

Fortin .' 

Foster, Alfred D 

Fox, Mr 

Fraudulent packing 152, 153, 155 

French coast, fishery on, 1868 305 

Fresh-lish business, steady growth of, 1880 352 



214 

3,44 

345 

346 



Page. 

mackerel in Boston, 1869 306 

mackerel, first arrival in New York 

market,1873 322 

1877 332,333 

1880 349 

mackerel, first fare at Portland, 1878. 343 

Frye, Captain 327 

Fundy,Bay of 4, 10, 40, 41, 49, 83,249, 254 

Gaff 87 

introduction of, 1823 221 

Gammurus dentatus 20 

loricatus 20 

mutatus 20 

pinguis 20 

sabini 20 

Gannets 18, 27 

Gasp6 ...15,245,257 

Bay 320 

Cape 82,258,274 

Gaspereau 25 

General discussion of fishery, 1870 312, 313 

Geographical distribution 3, 4 

George, Cape 46 

George's Bank .7, 8, 49, 83, 236, 239, 280, 282, 296, 297, 

302, 309 

bank, large fleet on, 1875 329 

large haul on, 1873 324 

big trip from, 1872 321 

George's, good catch on, 1869 307 

good fares from, 1867 297 

good trip from, 1868 302 

large school on, 1867 296 

shoals 33 

Georgetown (Prince Edward Island) 82, 106 

German Ocean 4 

Gibbers 73,74 

Gifford, Mr 52, 122 

Gigging, protest against, 1836 228 

and seining, protest against in 

present century 121-123 

Gilbert, Moses 220 

Gill-net fishery 107, 112 

in Barnstable Bay, success 

of, 1870 309 

at Cape Cod, growing im- 
portance of, 1859 268 

in Cape Cod Bay, success 

of, 1858 267,268 

Gill-nets, large catches in 107, 108 

Gill-netters from Provincetown, good 

catches of, 1869.- 306 

Gill-netting, advantages of, 1859 269 

at Dennis, 1870 312 

Gilpin, Dr 8,10 

Giving the seine away 64 

Gloucester 241, 283 

baymen, success of, 1858 266 

fisheries, 1873 326 

fishery, 1870 312 

1881 352,353 

fleet, the large vessels in, 1821 . . 220 

Harbor, mackerel in, 1853 255 

large school in, 1861. . . 278 

Goode, G. Brown 5, 6, 8, 224, 345 

Gordy, Mr. J. P 59,73 

Grades of mackerel 139 



[435] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Page. 

Grand Manan ----- 12,23 

Island 83 

Grant, President 321 

Gray, Capt. William 80,341 

Green Cove 8 

Greenport 54 

Grey, Capt. John 85,92 

Grey vrire, Mr 8 

Growth and size, rate of 26, 27 

Gulf fishery, 1S76 334 

Gulf of Maine, fishing in the, 1874 327 

1875 328 

St. Lawrence, close of season, 1852. 252, 253 
American vessels in, 

1873-1881 429 

poor quality of fish, 

1854 258 

fishing in, 1859 270 

good fares, 1862 281 

arrivals from, 1859 . - 271, 272 

Gunnison 223 

Halifax 40,131,240 

Halifax Harbor, large hauls in, 1855 260 

Hall, Mr 23 

Hamilton Inlet 3 

Hand-lining from decks of vessels, intro- 
duction of, 1804 219-220 

Harbor temperatures 7 

Harding, Capt. King. . .7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 37, 38, 242 

Harger, Oscar 28 

Harwich 339 

Harwichport fishery, 1864 284 

Hatleras, Cape 3, 9, 10, 41, 42, 112 

Henlopen, Cape 113 

Henry, Cape 7,10,328 

Herrick, Capt. WUliam 113 

Hibernation 5, 8 

Higgins, Mr 52 

Higgins and Gilford 55 

Higgin son, Francis 13 

Higii line of the bay fleet, 1869 308 

fleet, 1857 262 

1866 293 

1867 298 

1879 347,348 

Provinoetown fleet, 1874. 327 

seining fleet, 1874 327 

piice of bay mackerel, 1875 330 

for mackerel, 1869 306 

Hinckley, Mr. Benjamin F 43 

Hind, Prof. H. T 3,5.18,21,44,346 

on the causes of the al- 
leged annual variation 
in the numb er of mack- 
erel observed 35,37 

on the causes of irregu- 
lar movements 29-35 

Hingham 265 

fishery, 1815 220,221 

1837-38 231 

1844 238 

extinction of, 1876 333 

fleet, success of the, 1843 237 

Holmes & Co 238 

Homeward passage and disposition 102-103 



Page. 

Hood, Port 82,280,299 

Hook-and-line fishing off New England 

coast 276 

Hooked and seined mackerel, relative 

quality of 143 

Horton, Capt. E. A 332 

Capt.I. N 325 

"Horton," largo stock made by the, 1873. 324, 325 

Howes, Capt. Ainsley 259 

Hull 115 

Hurlbert, Capt. R. H 22,23 

Hyannis 239 

Implements, methods, and results of mack- 
erel dragging 107-1 12 

Improvement in mackerel on the south 

coast of Nova Scotia, 1872 320 

packing salt mackerel and 

other fish 132 

Increase in the price demanded for li- 
censes to fish in British waters, 1868 301 

Inferior quality of bay mackerel, 1869 307 

takbn in Canadian waters, 

1871 315 

Influence of tbe fishery on the welfare of 

the flshingtowns, 1868 304 

Inspection of No. 4 mackerel, 1835 227 

laws 147-162,354 

British Provinces, 1874.. 395^18 

Canada, 1874 395-412 

Connecticut,1875 370-372 

Maine. 1875 ' 354-357 

Massachusetts, 1859 .... 363-368 

New Hampshire, 1878 357-303 

Nova Scotia, 1851 412-418 

Ehode Island, 1872 368-370 

of pickled mackerel, Maine, 

1804-1820, 1864-1878 , 1864-1881, 194-202 
of pickled mackerel, Massa- 

chussetts, 1804-1881 164-190, 191 

of pickled mackerel, New 
Hampshire, 1804-1820, 1864- 

1881 202,203 

Ipswich Bay 32,293,314 

Itinerary of voyage to St. Lawrence Gulf. 105-107 

Jack, Cape 46 

Jacobs, Capt. Sol 9,112,113,338,349 

Janovin, Capt. George 262 

Jeffries Ledge 47 

Jewett, Capt. B. F 80 

Jig 85,86 

invention of 220 

Jigging mackerel 93 

Jones, Mr. J. Matthew Ill 

Joselyn 27 

Jost,H.S 320 

Joyce, Capt. H. B 12,13,112,327 

Kelly.Dr 34 

Kenney, Capt. Nelson A 60 

Kenniston, Mr. George B 43 

Kettle Island 22,88 

Key West 10 

Kyaok 109 

Labrador 3-4 

current 33 

La Chance, Capt. L. H -15,46 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



[436] 



Page. 

Xast arrival from the bay, 1858 264r-266 

Late school in Massachusetts Bay and at 

CapeCod, 1859 272 

Latham, Captain 112,338 

Latitude, range of 4 

Lavoie, N 315, 316, 320 

Laws, petitions, and protests 119 

Le Barre Harbor 326 

Lee-bowing 97 

Legislation for the protection of mackerel . 119, 123 

Le Have 7 

Bank 17 

Leighton, Capt. Andrew 22 

Lewes, Del 331,339 

License required by C an adian Government 
from American vessels fishing in Gulf 

of St. Lawrence, 1866, 1 867 290, 296, 297 

Life-history of the mackerel 3-29 

Line-fishery, exceptional hauls 96 

List of American vessels engaged in the 

mackerel fishery, 1880 420-429 

Little, E. H 145 

Long Island 21,49,260 

Sound 41 

Lookout, Cape 1] 3 

Loss of many schooners in the Bay, 1852. . 253 

Low, Maj.D. W 89,91,105,305,328 

Lowe, Capt. Francis 115 

Lowry, Mr 89 

Loyd, Thomas 10 

Lucky haul at Provincetown, 1877 333 

streak 82 

vessels, 1875 328 

Lunenburg 317 

Lurvey, Abraham 85, 118, 220 

Lyle, H. M 248 

Mackerel hook fishery 81-107 

Mackerelmen, discouragi ng prospects for, 

1841 235 

poor doings of, 1837 230 

1844 238 

Mackerel pocket 17 

mint 18 

shark 28 

Macrura 15 

Maddocks, Capt. Joseph 82 

Maddos, Mr. Luther 78 

Magdalen Islands.. .21, 22, 30, 31, 40, 82, 94, 247, 261, 
280, 284, 294, 295, 299, 309, 326 

Elver 271,274 

' Maine coast, fishing on the," 1860 276 

Gulf of 49,83 

fishery, 1864 285 

mackereling in, 1825 222 

Malpec 249, 288, 294, 299 

Manomet Ponds 238 

Margaree Islands 82, 280, 286, 299 

Margaret's Bay Ill 

Market fishermen, good luck of, 1872 319-320 

for mackerel, 1832 225 

1858 266 

1859 272 

running for the .- 75 

Markurson, Capt. Knud 80, 81, 339, 340 

Marr, Capt. Chester 17, 99 



! Page. 

Marshall, Capt. William 221 

Marston, Eobert 219 

Martha's Vineyard 45 

Martin, Capt. S.J 69,70,71,72 

Martinicus Eock 49, 83 

Massachusetts Bay 314 

fishery, 1876 832 

fishing in, 1870 310-311 

catch of mackerel for 1838. 231 

fisheries, extent of, 1837.. 229 

fleet, 1880 418-419 

Mather, Eichard 13 

May, Cape 41,112 

Mayo, Henry & Co 133 

Mr. Noah 40 

McLain, Captain 76 

McLean, Capt. Geo 337 

McMann, Captain 80 

Meccatina 316 

•little 4 

Mediterranean :... 4 

Mehlman, Ca pt. David N 42 

Menhaden 7 

Menhiggm 13 

Merchant, Capt 85, 218, 219, 220, 222, 224, 225 

Capt. Epes W 92,99 

Capt. George, jr .52, 57, 71, 78 

James 220 

Merrimac Eiver 89 

Methods of curing, past and present 145, 147 

Mexico, Gulf of 4 

Migration s 5-6-12, 31, 32 

northerly 12,13 

Milk Island 22,24 

Mingan , 4 

Islands (Labrador) 82 

Miramichi 82 

Bay 267,309 

Miscou Point 22, 46, 82, 245, 282, 294 

Mitchill,Dr 39 

Mr. Charles 131 

Modeof fishing 92-98 

Moisie 315 

Monhegan, Me 110 

Island -. 49,83,254 

Montauk 294 

Point 83 

Morgan, Captain 234 

Mount Desert Island 107,345 

Eock .49, 83, 244, 254, 334 

Mount Louis 271, 275 

Movements of mackerel, influence of blue- 
fish on, 1850. 244,245 

Movements of the mackerel schools, ob- 
servations of American fishermen 37, 41 

Mulgrave, Port 332,346 

Mystic Eiver 54 

Nantucket 13 

Shoals 23,31,83,112 

Nealley, Mr. E.J 43 

New Bedford. 54 

New Brunswick 22, 50 

fishery, 1852 254 

and Nova Scotia fishe- 
ries 1871.317 



[437] EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Page. 

Kowburyport flaliery, 1863 283 

tleet, 1860. 273 

fleet, past aud present, 1873. 324 

■vessels in Saint Lawrence 

Guif,1853 257 

vessels, small number en- 
gaged in the Soutbeni 

fishery, 1870 309 

llfeTVComb, Capt. Darius 52 

New England coast, large school off, 1877. 337 

New England fishery, 1856 261 

number of vessels 

lathe bay, 1878.. 337,338 

review of the, 1878 . . 344 

1879.. 348 

1880.. 351,352 

1881 . 953 

fleet, 1879-'80-'81 . . 206, 208 

south coast of 83 

New England vessels, big catches by. 1876 336,337 

New Enterprise 339,340 

NewfoumUand 12,39 

New London 54 

Newport, good catch off, 1875 329 

Harbor 342 

large ca^ch at, 1875 330 

large haul at, 1875 330 

New York 114,339 

Night fishing, introduction of, 1837-1841.. 230 

a new feature in the mack. 

erel fishery, 1841 235 

Neman's Land 33,34,294 

North American fishery, products for 1880. 127-131 

North Cape 22,46,341 

Northern limit 3 

Norton, B. H 249 

Norway, coast of 25, 340 

Notre Dame, Bay of 46 

Nova Scotia 12 

big catch off, 1851 248 

1877 "... 333 

• eastern coast of 83 

fisheries, 1839-1846 240 

schooner bound south, the 

tables turned, 1877 333 

Western, mackerel in 1853. 254 

Numbers, fluctuations in 37, 38, 42 

Oakes, Elisha M 219 

Capt. W. H 78 

Olsen, Captain 7 

Omniastrephes illecebrosa 28 

Orphan Bank 46, 82, 245, 294, 298 

Ottawa 301 

Overfishing destroying the fishery, 1838. . 233 

Packard, Dr 33 

Professor 3 

Packing, cost, and quantity of salt needed. 140,142 

Parsons, Capt. John 115,220 

Passing Cape Cod, 1875 330 

Pate, Captain 82 

Pelagic fish 12 

Penobscot Bay 2.3,128 

Perley, Mr 4,12,111,254 

Pettingell, Mr. Moses 42 



Page. 
Petition for the repeal of the law provid- 
ing for an inspector-general of fish 156-100 

Phalaropes 17 

Pharo, Mr. Edward 102 

Philadelphia 114 

Phillips, Mr. Barnet 5 

Phosphorescence 109 

Pictou (Nova Scotia) 249 

Pierce, Miles 80 

Pigeon -hill ground 82 

Platyouichus ocellatus , 15 

Pleasant Bay 326 

Plen^^^y oft' Newburyport, 1858 264 

reported at Western Nova Scotia, 

1852 250 

Plows 100-102 

Pocket or spiller 71-73 

Poey 10 

Pogies - 79 

Pollock 17 

Pool, Captain 251,252 

Porpoises 28 

Port-au-Port 82 

Portland 25, 83, 245, 345 

Portsmouth and Gloucester Harbors, big 

schools in, 1837 230 

fall fishery, 1837 231 

Prices 26 

1827 - 225 

1836 238 

1850 246 

1852 250 

1859 270,271,272 

1865 286,287 

1866 290,291 

1868 3C3 

1869 306,307 

1873 322 

advance in,1861 279 

1866 293 

in Boston market, 1804-1832 218 

of canned mackerel 135 

enhanced by the demand for ship- 
ment to California and Australia, 

1857 262 

for fresh mackerel. New York, 1870 . 312 

in Massachusetts, 1830-1881 210 

Prince Edward Island 22, 23, 33, 

245, 247, 2.57, 261, 263, 267, 280, 282, 284^ 
287, 288, 294, 295, 299, 309, 320, 346, 347 

Proctor,Mr. J. O 89,158 

Profitable shore fishing, 1870 310 

ProspecT, Upper 333 

Provincetown 7,26,28,239,248 

fisheries, 1876-18.>6, inclu- 
sive 331 

fishery, 1872 320 

Harbor 10,269,276 

Prussia (Eastern) 4 

Pteropoda 20,21 

Purse-seine, attempted use of, in Norwe- 
gian waters 80 

bio; catches with, 1865 286 

big haul in a, 1866 291 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEEEL FISHERY. 



[438] 



Page. 
I'urse-seine, dimensions of an average-size 

deep-water 57 

fishery 48,81 

history of tlie use 78,80 

protest against the us e 122 

successful use of, off Cape 

Ann, 1859 209 

successful use of, off Cape 

Ann, 1860 275 

Purse-seining, successful, on New Eng- 
land shore, 1853 255 

Pursing up. 61 

Quicktrip, 1874 327 

Quick bay trips, 1861 278 

Quinan, Mr. Francis 317 

Eace, Point 327,328 

Katcliff, Capt. WiUiam 78 

Reappearance on the Labrador coast after 

40 years' absence, 1871 316 

Eeceipts and prices, 1853 255 

Keciprocity treaty, effect of, on Nova 

Scotia, 1869 307 

EedBay 3 

seed 17 

Ee-enactment of prohibitory laws, 1702. . 120, 121 
Eefusal of mackerel to take the hook at 

all times 38-40,42-44 

Eeinspection, pickled mackerel, Massa- 
chusetts, 1850-1881 192 

Kemon, James M 315 

Eental of Cape Cod fishery, 1677 218 

Kepeal of prohibitory laws in Massachu- 
setts, 1692.. 119-120 

Eepealed, inspection laws, Maine 372-381 

Massachusetts 381-388 
Pennsylvania, 388-395 

Eeproducfcion 21-26 

Eeview of fisheryfor 1853 256 

Pwhode Island 90 

Kich, Mr. A. B 40 

Eichmond's Island 79 

Eideing, Mr. William H 5 

Eisor 80 

Eissoa 18 

Eobinson, Captain Daniel 223 

Eockport, Mass., large fishing station, 1836 238, 229 

Eopes, Charles 158 

Eough weather in the bay, 1866 292 

Eowe, Capt. Joseph 22 

Eozier,Cape 274,275 

Euslico 316 

Sable, Cape 40,230,250 

Island 83 

Salem 89 

Sales, 1867 298 

1881 353 

prices, &c., 1828 225 

Salmon Bay 3 

Salt mackerel 135,136 

fishery of Gloucester, re- 
ceipts for 1880 350, 351 

S.ilting the fish 98,99,219 

Sandy Hook 9,114,260,294 

Point 116 



Sars, Professor 25,35 

Dr. G. O 32 

Scarcity, 1828 225 

1836 1 228 

1837-1841 230 

1847 240 

1850 244 

1852 252 

1858 263 

1861 277 

1867 296,297 

off Cape Ann in late autumn, 

1850 245,246 

attributed to bluefish, 1868 304 

comparative, 1866 291, 292 

carious reason for, 1841 235 

in early summer, 1849 243 

and extreme high prices, 1853 .. 255 

on New England coast, 1834 227 

1873.... 325 

in Nova Scotia, 1843 238 

in St. Lawrence Bay, 1838 . i 234 

1860 273,274 

1875 330 

early in 
the sea- 
son, 1866. .. 290 

Gulf, 1838 232 

1860 277 

1868 302,303 

offshore, 1875.... 329 

reported in St. Lawrence Bay, 

1852 252 

reported in St. Lawrence Bay, 

1861 279 

unusual, in St. Lawrence Bay, 

1806 290,291 

fall mackerel on New England 

shore, 1842 237 

small mackerel in Massachusetts 

Bay previous to 1830 224, 225 

School, large, 1872 321 

of Cape Ann, 1852 252 

of CapeCod, 1873 325 

in the eel grass, 1876 332 

Schooling mackerel, display of, 1865 288 

Schools in Gloucester Harbor, 1859 269,270 

1868 303 

Schooners stranded ia the bay, 1857 262 

Scomber grex 39 

Scudder, Fred., & Co 244 

Seaconnet, E. A 77,89,90 

Sea- fie as 32 

herring ' 6 

Season good for mackerel, 1864 284 

Sea-urchins 30 

Sea-worms 30 

Seine 56,58 

cost of 103,104 

boat, and its fittings 52, 56 

boats, price-list of 55 

Seiners, good catches by, 1869 306 

success of 321 

Swampscott, 1853 255 



[439] KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Page. 

Seining by day, met liods of 59, 65 

financial profits of 75, 76 

by night, methods of 57,65-71 

prohibition of, 1864 119 

successful at Isle of Shoals, 1852. . 250, 251 
to be tried in St. Lawrence Bay, 

1868 301 

vessels fitted for 50 

Sellman, Mr. Henry 136 

Seven Islands, Labrador 19, 82, 97 

Shore and bay fisheries, prices, &c., 1873. 324 

fishery in Cape Cod Bay, 1879 339 

a good stock in the, 1873 324 

notes on the, 1878 339 

fleet, 1853 256 

1865 286,287 

1866 293 

offCape Ann, 1804 219 

1858 264 

arrival of the, small number of 

arrivals from the bay, 1875 . 330 

doingsof the, 1858 266 

great d isasters to the, 1869 .... 308 

ill success of the, 1878 341 

small catch by the, 1877 333 

success of, 1861 279 

,1866 293 

1869 307 

and George's fleet, doings of the, 1868 303 

Shore-loving fish 4 

Shoremen, South, success of, 1842 237 

Simpson, A."W 3 

Sinclair, Capt. Peter 9,271 

Skip-jack 10 

Small catch, 1836 229 

1860 273 

in June, 1875 329 

by Newburyport fleet at the 

South, 1860 275 

by New England fleet, 1843 . 238 
of St. Lawrence Bay and 

shore fleets, 1867 298 

in St. Lawrence Gulf, 1870 . . 310 
catches at Block Island and in Gulf 

of St. Lawrence, 1878 342 

of the mackerelmen, 1877.. 334 

fall catch in the bay, 1869 308 

fleet . from Gloucester, 1859 268 

receipts and unusual scarcity, 1851 . 248 

spring catch, 1858 264 

Smith, 

Capt. Henry O 82 

John 27 

Capt. Joseph 51, 56, 67, 68, 69, 112 

S.I 28 

Capt. Sylvanus 88 

Snappers 16 

Snow, Mr. Josiab 41 

South Channel, large schools in, 1848 242 

Southern Channel 42, 47 

fishery, 1862 280 

1863 283 

1068 301,302 

1873 322 

beginning of , 1 815 .■ 220 



Page. 

Soutliem fishery, decline of, 1859 268 

early catches, 1880 348, 349 

notes on, 1861 277 

1870 310 

1878 338 

success of, 1 862 281 

fishing, light fares, 1874 327 

fleet, 1860 276 

1866 289,290 

1876 331,334 

1880 349 

first arrivals of, 1868 301 

in Glouces- 
ter, 1873.. 322 

at Newport, 1873 323 

poor success of, 1858 263,264 

sailing of, 1875 328 

the first of the, 

1873 322 

slim doings of, 1856 261, 262 

success of , 1859 269 

1870 310 

unfavorable news from, 

1861 278 

uniisual success of, 1867.. 296 

limit of mackerel 3 

South shore vessels, success of, 1870 309, 310 

Spawn 35,36 

effect of rain on 36 

temperature on. 36 

Spawning season 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 

Spikes 26 

Spirialis Gouldii 15 

Splitters 73,74 

Spoffbrd, Mr. Amherst 79 

Spring fishery, 1838 232 

1859 268 

1860 277 

1861 278 

1866 289 

1867 295 

1868 300 

1870 311 

1873 322,323 

1874 327 

1875 329 

1876 334 

1877 332 

1878 338 

in Cape Ann Bay, 1870 311 

Barnstable Bay, 1855... 259 

Cape Cod Bay, 1861 .... 277 
at the Magdalen Islands, 

1858 265 

on the United States coast, 

success of 1853 257 

Spring and Gulf fishery 276 

seine 77 

Southern fishery 112, 115 

Springing up 97 

Squalus americanus 71 

St. George, Bay of 82,282 

Cape 82,280 

St. Margaret's 316 

St. Mary's Bay 4,13 



HISTORY OF THE MACKEREL FISHERY. 



[440] 



Page, 

St. La-svrence Bay fleet, 1880 351 

flsliery, hostilities of 
Canadians 
cause loss 
to Ameri- 
can -ves- 
sels, 1870.. 314 
outlook for, 

1866 289 

small catch, 

1871 318 

Gulf, favorahle reports from, 

1862 ; 281 

fisheries of 1879 345-347 

fishery, 1870 311 

1876 332 

a new feature 

in, 1859.... 269 
review of, 

1878 343-344 

and. !N"ew England 

coast fisheries, 1878. 340 
surface temperatures 

in 34 

St. Peter's Harbor 247 

Staples, Capt. J. S 112 

Star Island 251 

fish 30 

Starbuck, Mr 202 

Statistics of the inspection of mackerel 

from 1804 to 1880 162,217 

the mackerel fishery in 1880. 123,125 

Maine 193 

Massaohu setts 162, 163 

!N"ew Hampshire 202 

Tlni ted States 203-206 

Steele, Mr. George 158,159 

Stellwagen Banks 33 

Stone, Mr. William 311 

Btonington 34 

Storer, H. R 4,23,24 

Story, G. V 316 

John 92,219 

Studies of the movements of the mackerel 

schools 29-48 

Success of the Cape Cod and Cape Ann 

maokerelmen, 1837 230 

a Gloucester schooner, 1876 .. 382 

Successful bay trips, 1858 264 

day's fishing, 1858 264 

George's trip, 1874 337 

Sullcod 18 

Summer limit 20 

Sunday-keepers, 1866 293 

Swampscott market fishermen, success of, 

1870 312 

Swan's Island 113 

Sweden, soiith coast of 4 

Sydney 82,284 

Harbor 300 

Sj'lvester, Felix 315 

Table of quantity and value of Canadian 
fisheries, 

1880.... 180 



Page. 
Table of quantity and value of New Eng- 
land fisheries, '80 129 

showing coastwise movements of the 

mackerel 47, 48 

the period and yearly dif- 
ference in number of days 
between the first appear- 
ance of the herring and 
the mackerel at the Mag- 
dalen Islands from 1857 to 

1876 45 

Tackle, new fishing 77 

Tallman, John 77 

Tarr, Capt. Benj 219 

Mr. Moses 10 

Temperature, eflfeot of, on local movements 

of mackerel 33,34 

variations in 20 

Terry, Capt. EusseU D 347 

Thomas, Nathaniel 119 

Thurlow 85 

Thysanopoda 15, 16, 17 

Tides, effect of 20 

Tinkers 26 

Tolling or chumming up 92 

Tom'sBay 333 

Tory, James A 317 

Towns of Cape Cod built up by their fish- 
eries 248 

Treat, Mr. U. S.. 44 

Treat, Noble & Co 239 

Turner, Capt. James 117 

Tusket Islands 250 

United States and Canada fishery, 1873- 

1881,1873-1880 209 

fishery 48 

fishery, 1831,1834-1838,1851, 

1864^1881 209 

imports pickled mackerel, 

1824-1841, 1850-1881 211, 213 

Unprofitableness of the mackerel fishery, 

1847 240 

of the St. Lawrence Gulf 

fishery, 1873-1877 336 

Varanger Fjord 4 

Yenning, W. H 315,317,320 

Verrill, Professor 4,28,33 

Yessels 49,52,84,85,113 

loss of, by destructive gale at St. 

Lawrence Bay, 1853 256 

in the mackerel fleet, ] 851 249, 250 

and men engaged in the Glouces- 
ter fishery, 1862 280 

Vineyard Haven 336 

Islands 47 

Sound 12,22,107 

Voss, Adolph 91 

"Waquoit, Mass 9 

"WatchHill 34,334 

Watson, Capt. Edward 243 

Capt. Nathaniel 78,79 

Webb, Capt. Henry 22,24 

Weir at Cape Cod, big catch in a, 1869. ... 307 

1877.... 333 



[441] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Page. 

"Wc'irs, good catch in Nova Scotia, ] 877 Xi3 

Wellfleet 228,248,266 

schooners, success of the, 1869.. 308 

South 276 

"West Indies 4, 10 

Wbales 28 

"White, Mr 9 

"Whiteaves, Mr. J. F 18,39 

TVhituiore, Captain 251 

"Wilcox, Mr. W. A 133,135 

"Wilkins, Mr 23 

"Willard, Mr. E. G .72,159,345 

Capt. Henry 17 



Pase. 

"Winds and tides, effects of 36,37 

"Winthrop, Governor 13 

"Winter quarters, seeking 30,31 

"Wintering, place of. 40,43 

Wlxon, Captain 243 

"Wolff, Mr. Julius 136 

"Wonson, George 220 

John 8, 220 

Samuel -jiu 

"Wood, Capt. Charles P 224 

Tai-mouth 250 

N. S., good catch at, 1851 248 

Young mackerel, growth of 24, 25 



j: 



LBJa'OS 



Q 



